MIDLAND COUNTIES VETERINARY MIDLAND ASSOCIATION. 769 
outweigh the extra labour. Could he only contrast the college 
advantages of the present day with what they were twenty or 
thirty years ago, he would be inclined to feel the difference 
between the men of that day and the present should be more 
marked than it is. There is one part of the present education 
which, although the college is still trying to increase it, is still to 
my mind far behind any other; I mean practical teaching. I am 
told by an old and present examiner that more pupils are rejected 
on the subject of practical knowledge than on any other, flight 
gladly would I hail the day when the apprenticing clause was put 
in force, for without it, this will always be a stumbling-block to 
the progress of many a young practitioner, who, commencing 
life, as it were, with only scientific and theoretical knowledge, 
often becomes disgusted with the ridicule and almost contempt 
which he daily encounters, so much so, indeed, that he is not 
unfrequently induced to give up the profession in despair. I am 
almost inclined to view the education of the present day, without 
all due care be taken, as being likely to raise shoals to strand our 
little boats upon. Men or even women too highly educated 
are frequently too apt to look on many necessary duties of life 
as too menial for their exalted state; and, gentlemen, I fear 
it may be so with some of the present aspirants to veterinary 
science. A greater mistake was never made, for unless the vete¬ 
rinary surgeon is not only able, but willing, to perform at times 
the work his profession requires, he, as far as success is con¬ 
cerned, had better never have entered it. Depend upon it, a man 
able to give sound advice, and with tact and quickness not only 
to order others, but able himself, if wanted, to carry out the 
details of his profession, will make a more lasting impression on 
the mind of his employer, and secure the respect of the subordi¬ 
nates around him, than theorizing for hours on the nature of 
disease. 
And now, I may ask, what have we to do ? Are we to sit still 
and calmly watch the progress with satisfaction ? No, gentle¬ 
men, the common laws of society demand that we, too, should 
work. There should be no drones in the hive; each and every 
one can aid the cause. Not only the man who exercises his 
calling in the large towns of our land, but he also who is shut up 
in the out-of-the-way country districts, and especially can this 
be done through the medium of such societies as this. It is a 
fallacy to think that these meetings are only for the purpose of 
discussing scientific subjects; and blind indeed must that man 
be who holds we have no right here to advocate reforms, or call 
in question the acts and doings of those who represent us. Just 
as absurd would it be to expect that the constituents of a county 
or town should never question the doings of their Members in 
