INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
680 
there are legitimate unions. The trade of the chemist and 
druggist may be joined; or, what is better, the practice of 
agriculture, depressed though it may be at this time. All 
must admit that the breeding and rearing of animals, and 
investigating and treating their diseases, are twin brothers, 
and should therefore dwell together. 
Another reform needed, is the abolition of quaint terms of 
expression when speaking of particular diseases to the owner 
of the animals or to his friends. These smack of their stable 
origin, and will assuredly lead those with whom the veterinary 
surgeon desires to stand well, to believe him to be the com¬ 
panion of the yardman, the groom, or the coachman. Bear¬ 
ing on this point, I would likewise remark, that a necessity 
exists for such terms as side-bones, thorough-pin, bog-spavin, 
fardel-bound, and fifty others of the same class, to be ex¬ 
punged from all papers and essays that are to meet the 
public eye. What opinion must a medical man have of 
your science, if he hears or reads of diarrhoea being called 
green-skit, or white-skit, depending on the colour of the 
alvine evacuations; strangulation of intestines, gut-tie ; an 
enlarged mucous capsule, a wind-gall; or an exostosis, a 
splent. Abolish forthwith these worse than unmeaning terms. 
Another circumstance in which I believe a reform is needed, 
is the conduct of one veterinary surgeon towards another, 
when both are situated either in the same town or neighbour¬ 
hood. An unkind feeling lurks in the breast, and it far too 
frequently happens that this leads, although perchance they 
may have begun college friendships together, to disingenuous 
solicitations to obtain practice, and unworthy attempts to 
lessen each other in public estimation. A fair and honest 
rivalry is not to be complained of, nor is it in any way 
objectionable. All should strive to live on their own merits 
and deserts, not on the merits of others. If this were the case 
in our profession, we should witness the pleasing feature of 
one member being on the most friendly terms with another 
in the same town, giving him the benefit of his opinion in 
doubtful cases, and even superintending his practice when 
indisposition, or other causes, produced his temporary 
absence. The good that would spring from this association 
cannot be duly estimated ; and like all good actions, it would 
assuredly tend to the happiest results. 
Having made, and I trust in the right spirit, these 
observations on some of the reforms in the profession which 
immediately presented themselves to my notice, I shall 
proceed to a consideration of those named under the second 
and third heads : the Institution and the Pupils. I will at 
once plunge into media res ; for candour compels me to record 
