4d2 
ON VETERINARY CONSULTATIONS. 
Never, by countenance or by gesture, give any one occasion to 
suppose that you are dissatisfied or doubt. 
Your very questions—address most of them to the attendant 
sui'P'eon. 
Lay aside all your assumed nonsensical consequence (it may 
impose upon fools, but wise men will see through it), and meet 
your brother practitioner as friend should meet friend, and let 
your countenance and tone of voice express this. 
Never come before your time purposely, and as it were to have 
the field to yourself; and if your brother practitioner is not 
punctual, give him five minutes—give him ten if you can, and 
then, if he comes not, proceed to the careful examination of the 
animal: scarcely give an opinion as to the nature of the disease, 
or, if you do, let it be in one word : give a very guarded prognosis: 
and for your own sake, as well as for the sake of your brother, 
give no opinion of the treatment,—make no change in the medi¬ 
cine, for you are incompetent to both, and may injure your own 
reputation as likely as that of the attendant surgeon. If you are 
scoundrel enough to hint dissatisfaction or to glance at possible 
error, when you cannot be a judge in the case, and your oppo¬ 
nent is not by to defend himself, depend upon it that the execra¬ 
tion of your brethren, and your own secret contempt of yourself, 
will pursue you to your life’s end. 
Having possessed yourself of the leading circumstances of tlie 
case, say that you will make a point of seeing Mr.-, and 
consult with him as to the course to be pursued. 
Having met him, and satisfied yourself as to the state of the 
patient, still give no opinion while others are standing by, for 
you know not what the other may have previously said ; and the 
least clashing, even where you both mean the same thing, may 
be awkward, and should be avoided. 
Tlien in your consultation together endeavour to make your¬ 
self thoroughly master of the opinion which the attending 
surgeon has entertained or expressed of the case; and although 
it may not perfectly coincide with your own, fake care that, in 
your report to the owner, you drop not a syllable that can clasli 
with it. An opinion delivered in few words, and in the most 
