648 
PROFESSIONAL AFFAIRS. 
excellence of the educational arrangements in the veterinary 
schools ; they may be unexceptionable as far as they go ; but 
certainly if such a “curriculum” be requisite, extending over 
several years , to prepare a practitioner of human medicine, 
the veterinarian must obviously continue to run on unequal 
terms, and be content to get no better place. 
Our remedy, to a great extent, is apparent, and the nearer 
we approach to the standard of education observed in our 
sister profession the better, the circumstances of each in a 
scientific point of view being so intimately allied. All of us 
experienced in the business of life know that great changes 
for a permanent good cannot always be accomplished sud¬ 
denly, but there is no reason why we may not hope by 
rightly directed effort 
“By slow degrees to reach ascension’s height .’ 5 
In further consideration of the remedy, there are doubt¬ 
lessly more immediate collateral interests to be thought of 
and provided for. Probably under altered arrangements in 
the direction proposed, there might be for a year or two a 
less number of students, but this might, if need be, be met 
by increasing the entrance fee; for even if it were double the 
present amount it would be but about half of that required 
for matriculation at the hospitals. I am, however, not sin¬ 
gular in prognosticating that the numbers even would not be 
found deficient, for with a higher scale of education, and, as a 
necessary result, position, must be the inducement to become 
students in even greater ratio, thus removing the infra dig. 
(imaginary or otherwise); and no doubt many a young gen¬ 
tleman would then embrace the veterinary profession whose 
associations now present the medical as being more favorable 
to his choice. 
Another drawback also to our general cause in public 
estimation -would promise also to be somewhat remedied, 
namely, by reducing a “ class/* and substituting men who 
for gain need not , and on principle would not , make horse¬ 
coping a seeming part of a veterinary surgeon’s accomplish¬ 
ments ; an attribute to him of very different character, be it 
understood, to the legitimate dealer in horses, in whom it is 
often not so difficult to recognise high principles. 
If from these scattered suggestions accrue any good to the 
cause I advocate, I shall have the more reason to feel in¬ 
debted to your courtesy in giving them a place. 
Believe me, dear Messrs. Editors, 
Yours faithfully, 
M.R.C.V.S. 
To the Editors of c The Veterinarian .’ 
