SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING VETERINARV MEDICINE. 681 
my regret that some additional means are not adopted here 
and elsewhere to make students more practical, and more 
fitted for the every day duties of their profession. Believing 
that a good deal can, and therefore ought to be done, to 
remove this blot, what think you must have been my feelings 
when I read in a published lecture, delivered last year by a 
member of the profession, the following passages ?—“ Al¬ 
though, as a general rule, the pupils are expected to take 
their turn in attending the patients in the Infirmary, this 
duty is performed or neglected according to the inclination 
or caprice of the pupil, as no one in authority takes sufficient 
cog?iizance of the matter . Hence it is but too often found that 
many obtain their diplomas who were merely ready in their 
answers, and who had a general knowledge of the theory of 
the Art, while they can. hardly bleed a horse without 
bungling the operation, or compound and make up and 
administer a ball. Such occurrences are not uncommon, 
and they bring the Art and its professors into disrepute/ 5 
Would, gentlemen, that I could congratulate you upon the 
immediate application of an efficient remedy to eradicate 
this evil; but that it is our united opinion that something 
should be done, will be apparent when I recall to your mind 
an observation made by Mr. Spooner in his introductory 
address: “ Whatever remains to be done, (says my colleague,) 
will not be neglected by us, so soon as the road is clear 
to accomplish it. We stand against no sound reforms; 
and there is not an institution in the world that will ever 
cease to want them.’ 5 
I will now ask, what are the most certain means of giving 
this practical information ? 
1st. Let the Governors announce their intention of allow¬ 
ing horses, the property of the poorer classes, cab, or omnibus 
proprietors, to be brought to the College free of expense, and 
at fixed times, for the advice and treatment of the professors; 
and let all the necessary dressings, administration of medicine, 
and performance of operations, be done by the pupils under 
the superintendence of their teachers. 
2dly. Let cattle of all kinds be brought in the same 
manner and under the same regulations, but without reference 
to the position in society of their respective owners. 
3dly. Let a selection be made from among the Class, 
of persons to act as clinical clerks, who shall pay a small 
additional fee for the privilege, and be presented at the 
termination of their studies with a certificate setting forth 
the position, &c., they have held. These clinical clerks 
should have dressers under them, and they should keep a 
VOL. xxv. 4 Y 
