574 THE VETERINARY PROFESSION AND EDUCATION. 
educated class before his eyes. I would fain believe this is 
done unwittingly and unthinkingly, in consequence of these 
men invariably styling themselves veterinary surgeons, and 
their customers not taking the trouble to ascertain whether 
they are qualified or not. 
Such being the case, why attempt to go ahead in learning 
and science, which are not appreciated by our employers, or 
those who ought to employ us, and which I have for years 
observed even puts a barrier between us and them ? I am 
quite aware that there are many in the profession who have 
inherited or purchased a practice ready made, who for¬ 
tunately have had no experience in this way ; but if they 
doubt the truth of what I advance, and are willing to test it, 
it can be easily done by sending some qualified and well- 
conducted young man into a district hitherto in possession of 
a quack or two, and bearing his expenses until his standing 
is established. Our Veterinary Medical Associations might, I 
believe, effect great good by, for the present, deferring 
scientific discussions, which lead to no practical good, so far 
as the public are concerned, and, showing a hold front by 
combined efforts, impress the public with the necessity of 
recognising members only of the profession as veterinary 
surgeons. This may he done by advertising in the local 
papers the names of those practising, and designating them 
by their proper title, as veterinary surgeon, or farrier, by 
refusing certificates to those who uphold and patronise 
quacks, but who come to us when they have a purpose to 
serve. Such a course would only be consistent with the 
times in which we live, trades unionism being now uni¬ 
versally recognised ; and I feel certain a quiet perseverance 
for twelve months or so in this direction, and the attainment 
of a proper charter, or else a Veterinary Medical Bill by the 
parties whose duty it is to see after it, would be followed by 
beneficial results. 
Before closing my remarks, it may be interesting, and also 
to the purpose, to describe the status of the profession in this 
town and district, by which it will be seen that even mem¬ 
bers themselves are not without blame occasionally. With a 
population of 25,000 inhabitants, and in the season as many 
or more visitors, till very recently no qualified man had 
settled down here. At the time of rinderpest, the late Mr. 
Henry Taylor, M.R.C.V.S., formerly of Hull and Sheffield, 
resided here, and described the disease from post-mortem 
examination to one or two medical men and other autho¬ 
rities, who forthwith wrote on the subject, totally ignoring 
Mr. Taylor, who was not appointed inspector for the district. 
