OF THE VETERINARY PROFESSION. 487 
on these particulars, and they had declared themselves perfectly 
satisfied. He did not expect this so soon to be brought forward 
as a matter of complaint. What would be the consequence if the 
fee was raised ? It would exclude altogether the sons of farriers 
and smiths, whose pecuniary means were limited. We must look 
to the public, and endeavour to extend veterinary skill and science 
to the most obscure and remote places, as well as to practitioners 
in populous districts; and, if the profession and the public are satis¬ 
fied, we must not increase the amount of the fees. “ Allow me,” 
said he, to add, as a very old governor of Guy’s Hospital—the 
best, perhaps, in the metropolis—that the fees of the Veterinary 
College were regulated by it. The late Professor Coleman used 
to observe, that where talent was united with an early knowledge 
of the horse, the sons of these men, who would now be for ever ex¬ 
cluded, proved the best practitioners.” 
Mr. Mayer said that, in the country, much inconvenience was ex¬ 
perienced by the regularly taught practitioner from the ignorance 
and obstinacy of the illiterate smith; and it was the object of those 
by whom the Memorial was signed, that every man professing the 
veterinary art should possess a competent knowledge of it. From 
the ignorance of the mere pretender, those who had done justice to 
themselves were occasionally brought into serious disgrace. A 
smith in his neighbourhood had two sons in practice who never 
passed the Veterinary College. Some time since, whether rightly 
or wrongly, an action was brought against one of these sons for 
maltreatment of a horse. That which the united profession now 
solicited from the governors of the Veterinary College was, protec¬ 
tion against these uncertified men, who assumed a title to which 
they had no right. 
The worthy governor was perfectly in error when he supposed 
that the raising of the fee would lessen the number of pupils. It 
might keep away a few disreputable persons, who w'ould be a dis¬ 
credit rather than otherwise to the profession; but experience has 
uniformly proved in these cases, that a greater influx of respectable 
and better educated men would be the result. Besides, how will you 
otherwise pay the other Professors, which it is absolutely necessary 
for you to have; or liow will you remunerate some of the Proles- 
