430 
ON VETERINARY CONSULTATIONS. 
him a kind of intuitive knowledge of disease, which the young 
man does not readily acquire. In the majority of cases, a little 
conversation will make them approximate so far, that they may 
retain the supposed beneficial effect of the plan of each, without 
its possible bad consequences. 
This being accomplished, not one word is to be hinted of the 
previous difference; but the consulting surgeon will declare 
the result of their deliberations. It will not be abvays necessary 
to define the precise disease—that may be left for future deve¬ 
lopment. He will say what he conscientiously can of the pro¬ 
priety of the previous treatment, and that which he does say he 
w’ill say freely and off-hand. 
But supposing that they cannot agree, is the difference to be 
stated to the owner, and argued before him ? No, nothing about 
it:—but the consulting surgeon is to say, and as briefly as pos¬ 
sible, that they cannot agree in their opinion, and that it wall be 
advisable to call in a third practitioner. This will usually set 
the thing square and right, and, if these practitioners are men of 
honourable feeling, the owmer never need to knowq and never 
should know, the point of difference. 
A great many, or all of our practitioners, must wonderfully 
alter their conduct, before they can arrive at this desired state of 
perfection; but it is the true character of what veterinary con¬ 
sultations ought to be. 
But supposing that either the attendant, or the first consulting 
surgeon, is still obstinate, why, there is no help for the matter : 
the patient must be saved, if possible; the grand object of our 
consultations must be accomplished ; but nothing short of this 
can justify the injury or the ruin of a rising or an established 
reputation. 
This brings us to the second object, which should be held 
sacred in consultations,—the professional reputation of each. In 
an infant art like ours, with so many obstacles to overcome ere 
it can be established as it deserves in public estimation, there 
should be a kind of esprit du corps. It is a principle of human 
nature. It has been carried to excess, and been productive of 
violence and folly; but without it no science depending on the 
