48 
EDITORIAL REMARKS. 
occasion mentioned gave rise, involve subjects of vast and vital 
import to us veterinarians, not as regards our science alone, but as 
concerns our reputation as well. 
Touching the question of the cattle murrain, the fact is no less 
sorrowfully obvious to farmers and graziers than to ourselves, that 
an unprecedented fatality has followed the disease in almost all 
parts of the country; and that while this fatality has given rise to 
loud plaints from proprietors of the cattle, veterinarians have not 
altogether escaped vituperation for “ letting” the cows and oxen die 
in such numbers. It was naturally supposed by the farmers and 
graziers in the country, that the veterinary practitioners who had 
“ passed the College,” and set down in their respective neigh¬ 
bourhoods, had come among them armed with all manner of reme¬ 
dies, antidotes, and “ cures,” for any and every ailment horse, 
dog, ox, cow, or sheep, might happen to become afflicted with, and 
that the sick animal had only to make its moan through its master 
to the “doctor,” to be restored to health and soundness. Wofully, 
however, in the cases of cattle and sheep, in too many instances, 
has disappointment usurped the place of hope, aggravation of re¬ 
lief, death of cure. It was declared the doctor did not know his 
business ; nay, it was broadly asserted that the herdsman and the 
shepherd were, even in the case of sickness, the doctor’s superiors. 
But who were to blame for all this ? Was it the infatuated 
aspirant who had left “ College” with the certificated assurance in 
his pocket that he was “ duly qualified to practise the veterinary 
art in all its branches 7” or was it those who, knowing the con¬ 
trary, had cruelly imposed upon him a fictitious diploma 1 The 
only strange part of the eventful history of cattle and sheep medi¬ 
cine is, that the farce has been enacted so long, that farmers and 
graziers into whose localities such diplomaed, but, in truth, un¬ 
qualified offsets from the Royal Veterinary College have come to 
settle, have not in times long before discovered their want of 
knowledge to medically manage and treat cattle and sheep. For 
half a century has this delusive system of education been going 
on; and yet, forsooth! the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons 
have reproach at the present hour cast in their teeth, because they 
are endeavouring to introduce reform into such pernicious prac¬ 
tices! Esto perpetua would the Professors say to the old regime; 
