ON VETERINARY CONSULTATIONS. 
431 
joint exertions of its professors ever prospered: and worst and 
most fatal, among; the many obstacles to the advance of veteri- 
nary science, are the despicable jealousies and rivalries which 
have existed and continue to exist among us. 
Self is the prevailing principle with most of us; but yet there 
is a tacit compact to promote the honour and the interest of the 
association to which we belong, and that consists in the honour 
and interest of the individual members of which it is composed. 
This then is the second object, and base are they who sacrifice it. 
The professional reputation of each should be dear to each ; and 
in the manner which we have described it, may be sacredly pre¬ 
served without the slightest violation of our duty to our employer. 
There is temptation, strong with the dishonourable man, but 
which would be contemptuously rejected by every well consti¬ 
tuted mind. We are practising in the same town, or the same 
district, with a rival who often crosses our path, and to whom, 
perhaps, some of our old customers have seceded. He has a 
difficult case ; there is a little lurking dissatisfaction in the mind 
of the owner about it: we are summoned to a consultation with 
him; we have him in our pow'er;—-one word, one hint, one gesture 
will suffice. Shall w^e wreak our revenge, shall we rid ourselves 
of him ? No ! no !! no !! ! we will not act so despicably : we 
will meet him fairly and honourably ; we will win his friend¬ 
ship in spite of himself; and we will lay the foundation for much 
useful and pleasant intercourse. Honesty is the best policy 
here, more perhaps than in most other cases, for there are few 
things so delightful as association with a neighbouring practitioner 
whom we can esteem and trust. 
Well, then, in order to regulate these consultations so as to 
produce this consummation so much to be desired, shall we en¬ 
deavour feebly to sketch a few things that should be attended 
to? We have already hinted at some of them. 
Never, in the previous examination of the horse, let one word 
drop as to the nature of tlie disease, or its probable termination, 
or its present treatment. 
Never ask a single question that bears upon its face the cha¬ 
racter of doubt or suspicion. 
