402 ON THE ORIGIN OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 
and those who have not, very wisely observes, “ No man sup¬ 
poses that his watch can be repaired at the anvil, though 
there are those w ho send their horses to the blacksmith to be 
cured of their disorders: they know that this blacksmith is 
unacquainted with the mechanism of a watch, and yet they 
intrust a machine to him to which, in point of complication, 
a rattle bears more affinity to a watch than a watch to it ! 
Why then are gentlemen so blind? Is it that a horse is of 
less value than a watch? No ! The vile trash diffused in 
treatises of farriery is so truly disgusting to a man of common 
reflection, that he forms his opinion of the art by those he 
entertains of the book, and considers it specially adapted to 
the genius of his groom or coachman, or suitably lodged 
wdthin the scullcap of his blacksmith or bellhanger, below the 
dignity of a man of education, and incompatible with the 
habits of a gentleman.” “ Miserable animal,” says St. Bel, 
“ bereft of speech, thou canst not complain w hen to the dis¬ 
ease with which thou art afflicted, excruciating torments are 
superadded by the ignorant effects of such men, w ho, at first 
sight, and without any investigation to lead them to the 
source of thy disorder, pronounce a hackneyed common-place 
opinion on thy case, and then proceed with all expedition, 
to open thy veins, lacerate thy flesh, cauterize thy sinews, and 
drench thy stomach with drugs adverse in general to the cure 
they engage to perform.” 
These remarks of Mr. Percivall and Mr. John Bell are 
truly valuable, because, without a knowledge of anatomy and 
physiology, no one will be able to practise in the veterinary 
profession with benefit to his employers and credit to himself. 
Iu concluding these observations, it will be necessary to 
remark, although we have endeavoured to show the real 
necessity of anatomical knowledge, yet we wish it fully to be 
understood that, for the advancement of the science of 
pathology, or the treatment of organic disease, not only as 
regards veterinary, but likewise in the human profession, 
anatomy ought to be taught in as simple and clear a manner as 
possible ; for if not, the student, in some instances, from con¬ 
sidering the difficulty of the task which he has before him, 
becomes disgusted with the intricate nature of the subject, 
and the result is, that instead of gaining a perfect he only 
gains an imperfect knowledge of that branch of science 
w hich he will find of the greatest service to establish him in 
the successful practice of his profession. 
Mr. J. Bell very judiciously adds, “ If these negligences 
stand excused on any account, it is on this only, that ana¬ 
tomists have been accustomed to write, not for the public. 
