LANCASHIRE VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 221 
desirable—aye, and indispensable to its advancement—is the 
belief of all who have the interests of their calling at heart. 
This is not to be effected by a wholesale demand upon the edu¬ 
cation of intending students, nor by a sudden increase in the 
severity of the final professional examinations, but by a gradual 
advancement in all matters conducive to a healthy result. The 
individual social position to be occupied by a veterinary surgeon 
will depend partly upon his talent and skill as a professional man, 
and much more upon his education and gentlemanly habits. The 
position to be held by the profession will depend upon the willing¬ 
ness and determination of each individual member to uphold and 
protect its honour and integrity. 
The education of the veterinary student is a theme.upon which 
much diversity of opinion has been and still is expressed. There 
are gentlemen who advocate an extensive acquaintance with the 
different branches of knowledge, believing it an utter impossibility 
for a veterinary student to possess too great a knowledge of 
classics, mathematics, or mechanics; and, I regret to say it, there 
are gentlemen, though in point of numbers I believe them to be 
few, who have given forth to the profession their views that a 
veterinary student should only be educated during the scholastic 
period of his life, in the rudiments of some of the subjects just 
named. The impetus which has lately been given to the edu¬ 
cation of the working classes ought to arouse the attention of 
members of societies similar to ours, not only to the state of their 
own education, but also to that of those who have to follow them; 
and should they find improvement necessary, let that improvement 
not be restricted, let there be sources formed whence all may 
acquire additional knowledge, and let that knowledge extend 
widely over the different branches of learning. It is an erroneous 
idea to suppose that a veterinary student may possess too much 
classical or mathematical knowledge. This, I believe, has arisen 
from a fear that a highly educated pupil would not stoop to per¬ 
form many minor operations and duties which would be required 
of him during an apprenticeship. If a young man possessed of a 
good education wish to become a veterinary surgeon, and I lay 
great stress on the word wish, for some “ would like” to be 
veterinary surgeons who do not in reality care one tittle about the 
manner in which they study to gain the diploma, and little more 
how they practise when in possession of it; but, I say, if a young 
man love the science and practice of the veterinary art, and wish 
to hold a respectable and honorable position among its members, he 
will gladly avail himself of every opportunity to increase his 
knowledge, and will not allow any details to escape his notice. 
Where there is a will there's a way, and where there's listlessness 
there's oftentimes a blank. 
