20G NOETIl OF SCOTLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
and to make the trial successful we must take care that in all our 
movements we comport ourselves as men of honour, and scrupu¬ 
lously avoid those degrading habits and low tricks sometimes 
practised by members of our profession. In addition to these, if 
we are to succeed in such an object, we must all, by every means 
within our reach, seek to attain a thorough knowledge of our 
science. The want of this knowledge tends seriously to keep us 
low in social rank, while the possession of it would act as a power ¬ 
ful lever to raise us. The students that attend the different 
schools which in this country teach our science are now yearly, it 
is said, subjected to more searching tests before licenses are given 
them to practise in it. This is so far right, and will do good; 
but the best students obtain only half their education at college, 
the other half they must pick up in the school of experience, as 
they pursue their daily practice. The teachings of colleges give 
only capacity for future action, and it is only in proportion as the 
powers gained at such colleges are industriously worked that the 
students afterwards become distinguished practitioners. With¬ 
out industry and perseverance it is seldom that eminence is reached 
in any line of life. Our profession affords no exception to this 
rule. Skill in it will not accumulate without labour; yea, abun¬ 
dance of it both physical and mental is often required to enable 
us to apply the knowledge we may have acquired aright. This, 
however, we must not grudge, as it generally gives a rich reward. 
It may sometimes happen that the skill we have is not appreciated; 
owners will occasionally call in amateurs in our art instead of us 
to treat their sick stock. At this, however, we need not repine; 
to keep our skill will cost us nothing; rather let us collect and 
store it as cash in our banks ; for a time will come when all we can 
gather will be required, and then our stock must not be found 
wanting. It is only by the possession of superior skill and 
better application that we can beat nonprofessionals out of the 
field, and show that we are to be preferred before them. Real 
worth generally comes to be estimated at its true value. It is 
probably in some measure because we have hitherto been worth 
but little that a higher value has not been set on us. Is there 
not much regarding many diseases our patients are subject to 
that some of us do not understand, and consequently are all but 
powerless to treat ? How little can the best in our profession do 
with glanders in horses, quarter ill in cattle, and pox in sheep. By 
it these diseases are admitted to be beyond the power of cure. It 
is because of our own ignorance that such an admission has to be 
made. To cure them is possible did we only know the way. 
Human thought and observation have already done much in 
medicine, and in these complaints who can tell what may not be 
accomplished by continued application ? The science of medicine 
