628 EXPERIENCES OF A COUNTRY VETERINARIAN. 
and never manifested any disposition to rise up of his own 
accord, although he evidently possessed the full power over 
his limbs. The membranes were of the ordinary colour, the 
extremities warm, and the secretions perfectly natural. Be¬ 
fore I had concluded my examination, he suddenly left off 
eating, stretched himself out at full length, and lay thus, 
with his head extended, manifesting extreme pain, for 
five or six minutes; after which he would again elevate 
his head and neck, and resume his feed, which he seemed to 
devour with the utmost voracity. These paroxysms occurred 
about every twenty minutes. 
Such, then, were the symptoms, as nearly as they can be 
described. Will the reader—it matters not who he may be, 
Professor, Examiner, or “ the eminent Veterinary Surgeon, 
Mr. Anybody,”—be kind enough to cover over the remainder 
of this article, and tell us what was the nature or the seat 
of this animal’s malady ? “ Spinal or cerebral disease,” I 
hear somebody exclaim, with the greatest self-satisfaction. 
Nothing of the kind, sir,—guess again ! “ Chronic derange¬ 
ment of some of the intestinal organs.” A very extensive 
surmise, certainly, but not correct! “ Oh, then, some thoracic 
affection.” No, sir, I see, you know nothing at all about it; 
and, therefore, you must read what follows. You may be very 
clever—I dare say you are; but you are no more a conjuror 
than I am. # 
Well, then, not being a conjuror myself, I confess I was 
puzzled. We scientific practitioners often are so; but this 
seldom happens with the farrier of the old school. When 
the owner of our patient asks the very natural question of 
u What is the matter, Sir,” he , the farrier, self-assured, and 
happy in his ignorance, is never at a loss for the answer. 
Why, I know twenty men, who, had they been consulted on 
the case in question, would each have explained the matter, 
boldly and promptly, and, what is more, to the entire satisfac¬ 
tion of any required number of honest English farmers. It 
is easily done. “ He’s gotten a thorough cold and an in¬ 
flammation all over him,” says the farrier. “ Aye, very likely,” 
returns the farmer, “ I was thinking as much, myself.” 
Nothing could be clearer. The abracadabra is soon acquired. 
Impudence is the indispensable accompaniment of empiri¬ 
cism ;—why then do we hesitate to assume the mantle ? 
Gentlemen, members of the Council of the Royal College of 
Veterinary Surgeons I What say you to the appointment of 
a professor of the principles and practice of humbug? Be¬ 
lieve me, these things are very necessary to ensure success. 
Educating the practitioner is all very well: I admit its neces- 
