133 
BOTANY AS APPLIED TO VETERINARY SCIENCE. 
By Walker Watson, M.R.C.V.S., Rugby. 
Having endeavoured to show that botany is of practical 
utility to the veterinary surgeon, I will now offer a few 
remarks upon its importance as a science alone. At the 
present day the science of botany is taught in all our great 
agricultural and many other public and private schools ; and 
the introduction of the natural sciences, as a part of educa¬ 
tion, is receiving that attention which has been far too long 
neglected, and which, from their importance and usefulness, 
will soon become more generally carried out. This fact 
ought to have its influence upon us as a body, and rouse us 
up to consider our own position as professional and scientific 
men. It is true our profession has made great and rapid 
progress during the last few years, under the very able 
guidance of those who hold the helm ; but there still remains 
much to be done, so as to enable us to keep pace with the 
ever-increasing advancements of the day. The introduction, 
then, of botany, as a branch of the education of the veteri¬ 
nary surgeon, is greatly required. Sooner or later it must 
be brought about, and the day cannot be far distant; there¬ 
fore let it be introduced in our own alma mater . 
The idea that it will make the veterinary surgeon too 
scientific, and above the practical part of his profession, an 
idea which some few persons may be inclined to entertain, 
should be at once discarded. Such views have been clogging 
our wheels of progress too long. Practical knowledge I 
admit to be essentially necessary ; but practical knowledge 
is not all. We must be men of science as well. Almost 
every village farrier and cow-leech may be possessed of a 
certain amount of practical knowledge, but it is only in pro¬ 
portion as we exhibit our knowledge as scientific men, that 
we stand out in bold relief as members of a great and worthy 
profession. Let us then, as far as we can, make ourselves 
acquainted with the science of botany. There may be diffi¬ 
culties to contend with, but what is there worthy of attainment 
without them? Y T et there are none but what a little per¬ 
severing industry and zealous application will soon over¬ 
come. Let the leisure hours (and who has not some?) be 
devoted to its study, and rest assured the knowledge acquired 
will ere long repay the efforts made. It will open to us a 
wdde and hitherto unknown field of interesting research, and 
enable us to look into the beauty and perfection of nature as 
