280 
P RO V ESS I ON A L 15T1QU ETTE. 
ment; all of which (to judge from his reception of them) seemed 
to meet with his entire approbation. After walking with him out 
of the stable we parted, and from the fact of he (Mr. Mavor) not 
having hinted at any alteration of treatment, I was, of course, at 
liberty to consider the case left to my discretion. But—“ and here 
lies the rub”—on my return to the owner, I was informed that 
Mr. Mavor had expressed his intention of sending some medicine. 
“ By your request, of course ]” I inquired; how so] Mr Mavor, 
on entering the box, said, “ Do you wish me to send him any 
thing V’—" If you think you caq do him any good, Sir!” was the 
answer. Further conversation was checked by mv entry. The 
owner afterwards informed me that he considered, on seeing Mr. 
Mavor and myself walk away in company, that we should consult 
on the propriety of adopting certain measures. I have given, Sir, 
this conversation verbatim , that I may avoid the possibility of a 
partial statement. It will be observed, that the owner had acceded 
to Mr. Mavor’s wish to treat the animal. With this proceeding 
on his (the owner’s) part I do not quarrel; he was not supposed to 
be cognizant with professional rules; he only looked to the reco¬ 
very of his horse, and like “ a drowning man clutching at a 
straw,” eagerly accepted any probable means to that end. Him, 
therefore, I hold excused from any ulterior intention. But I ask, 
was it considerate, was it gentlemanly, was it professional, on 
the part of Mr. Mavor even to hint at taking a case from the hands 
of a fellow practitioner ? Even had he been requested so to do, 
it appears to me he would by no means have lowered his dignity 
by observing the propriety of consulting the medical man in 
attendance first. It has been my fortune, Mr. Editor, to meet men 
of no mean standing in the scientific world, whom age and expe¬ 
rience gave a right, as it were, to assume the master; but that age 
and experience had also taught them to consider the importance of 
a gentlemanly conduct, and had rendered them conscious of the 
fact, that while their condescension would detract nothing from 
their characters as members of a liberal profession, it would leave 
their names respected in the minds of every fellow-labourer in 
the scientific field with whom they might be brought in contact. 
There is a little circumstance connected with this subject so illus¬ 
trative of the sort of feeling that should universally exist, that I 
cannot refrain from mentioning it. Mr. Gowing, of Camden-town, 
was called on a short time back by a person who informed 
him that his horse was dangerously ill; and further, that his 
veterinary surgeon had not seen him since the morning, finishing 
his remarks with the earnest request, “ Will you go and see 
him, Sir, and do what you can ?” Mv friend’s answer was in the 
%/ •S 
words, “Certainly not, Sir!” on my own account; but on con- 
