144 
A REPLY TO W. J. G. 
bv no prejudices either for or against individuals or views. 
True, in regard to the first, I have, like others, individually 
owed advantages in life to the most disinterested services on the 
part of our Professor; but though I acknowledge the debt, it 
shall not bias my convictions, or repress my expression of them, 
where I see things fairly and honourably put forward and stated 
for the well being or elevation of the profession ; and, in regard 
to the latter, I but desire ever to see veterinary medicine and 
veterinarians respectable and respected, as they deserve to be. 
By injudicious attempts to rise too high, we certainly should 
not serve a legitimate cause; but by statements sinking us too 
low, we assuredly must seriously injure it. The world will hardly 
believe w'e would revile ourselves. Tirades such as those of 
W. J. G. paint the profession in colours we would require to 
blush at, were they not poetical. I am not one willing to admit 
the profession to be so low or degraded : I have not found it so 
even in individual instances. I will not say such a thing as that 
a solitary case of a not very dignified combination of “ smith’s 
work in general ” with veterinary avocations is nowhere to be 
found ; but let us regret it, and not exultingly hold it up to pub¬ 
lic animadversion ! If it is adopted as a medium through which 
to strike at or wound our parent institution, I fear it is an evil 
one, and will but recoil on the profession. I ever feel suspicious 
that personal feelings or individual views are mingled up or 
sought to be vented or forwarded by a course so derogatory to its 
character and class in general. But besides, the profession is 
very young; it must necessarily always be secondary, and carry 
a certain drudgery with it. And let us look to earlier days of 
human surgery, and admire the other avocations its professors 
erewhile have combined with it! This is not for a moment 
meant to depreciate veterinary medicine : it has made wonderful 
advances, and can take a high grade —but it cannot be perfected 
in a day. 
If there is room for reform, if there is room for improvement 
in the veterinary profession and its practisers, let us, in reputa¬ 
tion’s name! let us all lend a hand in our degree to forward 
whatever is for its honour and good ; and that there is room for 
both is undeniable, as that both are in daily march forwards. 
But stigmatising what has been the fountain-head of our pro¬ 
gression hitherto, and personally attacking and alienating the 
teacher we have so long looked up to, I may be allowed to 
doubt being a requisite or the best mode to prop our ambition. 
The great body of the profession, while it covets improvement, 
decries this as being any thing but one of the channels. And 
are we not growing too impatient? Impatience will but impede 
