616 
ON SHOEING HORSES. 
upon the necessity of learning something better worth knowing 
than being a mere blacksmith. I may be wrong: I think I am 
not. 
The German gazelle (apprentice) serves three years to a black¬ 
smith, travels three more, like other trades, as ajourneyman. The 
gazelles, or, as they sometimes call themselves, students, may be 
seen in the road; he starts, his mates primed with snaps and sing¬ 
ing some song about the frou and wine— 
“ Here I’ll take my lowly stand, 
And live in German vaterland; 
I’ll kiss my maiden, fair and fine, 
And drink the best of Rhenish wine.” 
Meet him in a distant part of the country some time afterwards, his 
boots worn out, his clothes older and torn, his long hair, a beard, 
he looks much more like a lion; he has not been able to get a job. 
See him at night in the inn pull out the farthings he obtained by 
voluntary charity ; he sits down with the host, partakes what is 
going, if his means allow of it—humble fare, most likely, or only 
black rye bread and a cup of coffee. Bed he will not get if he is 
in the state described, for fear of his leaving part of his family in 
it; but he is shewn the hay-loft, which, under the same roof, and 
there being no chimney, the smoke has made warm and comfort¬ 
able. True, he may get a bottle of poor wine on Sunday; and I 
have been surprised at the small sum upon which, I have been 
told, they existed in different parts of the country. I hope you 
will not send me there, Sir. I shall, unless these squabbles be¬ 
tween Professors and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons 
can be settled to the advantage of the student and the public. 
After you are two-and-twenty you will have to serve two years as 
a soldier, or pay 500 marks; then you will be free to set up as a 
master. You will belong to the club, and, if you are in distress, 
you will obtain relief: but, mind, you will only be a blacksmith. 
If you wish to be a (theirartz) veterinary surgeon, you must go to 
the veterinary schools. In some states you can pay for your free¬ 
dom to practise, and, after all, you may find a Mr. Gloag works 
(a smart chap) in the nighbourhood, with his free too. 
The boors in the stershaft of Pinneberg took a fancy to a chap 
of this sort, and His Excellency gave this man his free, because 
they said they preferred him to the Regulars. So, boy, you see 
you will have difficulties wherever you go in this struggle of com¬ 
petition. Attend to the Editor of The VETERINARIAN : " nothing 
can do this, save an improved foundation to work upon: for such 
knowledge, an abundant field for observation and practice, with 
ample time for carrying them out,” applies to every branch of the 
veterinary art. 
