‘‘ A CONCISE ACCOUNT,” ScC. &C. 555 
because they may be good, or they may be bad, or neither of the 
two ; but if he bungle as much when operating on a horse, as he 
does with pen, ink, and paper, I would scarcely allow him to 
bleed my dog; that is to say, if I could not do it myself. 
There is one point more in the same page (11th) in which this 
author and I most entirely disagree; that is, his unrestrained 
and never-ending abuse of smiths and farriers. It would appear 
to be the opinion of this paragon of veterinary skill, that no 
smith, no farrier, knows any thing about a horse ; that whenever 
a horse is ill, whatever his complaint may be, whether carditis, 
gastritis, or enteritis, still the smith and the farrier can give 
nothing—do not wish to give any thing—but a bottle wV saut 
an' water; this is their alpha and omega, they can go no further, 
being at a complete stand if their saut an water have no good 
effect. That’ this opinion of the author of the ‘‘ Concise Ac¬ 
count ’’ is correct, in some cases, I dare not deny; that it is also 
correct in many cases, I am sorry to say is true ; but still there 
are exceptions—there are some unpretending, modest exceptions, 
and I have met with them, where a smith or a farrier had been 
attending until better advice could be procured. But I did not, 
in cases like the present, strut into the stable with my cane in 
my hand, like the author of the Concise AccountI did not 
take out a quizzing glass, and, eyeing the smith or farrier, say— 
Who the devil are you V No such thing; I ever keep in mind, 
that modesty always goes with merit: but the very reverse with 
fools and “ dandified fellows.’^ 
I have now arrived at page 14th, where the malignity” of the 
author of the “ Concise Account” first shews itself towards the 
Edinburgh Veterinary School; “ malignity” which I would have 
scorned to notice, were it not that it is as far from truth as east is 
distant from the west. In point of time,” says our author, 
“ the next school is that at Edinburgh. I think it is not quite six 
years since any thing like a regular school was formed.” Reader, 
this is a sentence—a full sentence; but what does it contain? 
It says that the Edinburgh Veterinary School was formed about 
six years ago. But who is it that cares about such information ? 
It is formed now, and well Jonned too; and this is the whole 
cause of envy and vexation to the author of the Concise Ac¬ 
count”—envy that may have made him, like Duncan Gray, 
who spak o' loupin owre a linn;" but as there are no linns 
about Glasgow, he may be found some morning in the Dominie's 
/to/e,” or in **Feat Bog,” and then there would be sucli a general 
lamentation, far exceeding that on the death of Queen Caroline. 
** But,” continues the Account, “ farriers, their sons, and 
others” (their sons too, perhaps), then began to come from dis- 
