392 STATE AND PROSPECTS OF THE VETERINARY PROFESSION. 
for a moment bear investigation, but which might be credited 
by those who have not opportunities for getting at the truth; 
more especially might these statements be received as well 
founded by our continental brethren, and it is to them espe¬ 
cially that I would desire this more favorable side of the 
picture to be shown. 
THE STATE AND PROSPECTS OF THE 
VETERINARY PROFESSION. 
By T. Greaves, M.R.C.V.S., President of the Lancashire 
Veterinary Medical Association, Manchester. 
Gentlemen, —I have been induced to forward you the 
following communication, and ask you to give it a place in 
your forthcoming number, in consequence of some remarks 
which were made, at the annual dinner of the profession, on 
the necessity of co-operation. Provincial Associations, and 
the education of the pupils at our Veterinary Schools. 
It having been my lot to have had a good deal to do with 
Provincial Veterinary Medical Associations, I beg to bear 
my testimony to their thoroughly practical utility. I believe 
them to be sound in principle, and that their prospects are 
very encouraging indeed. Such associations have brought 
me into contact with very many members of our profession, 
gentlemen who have been for a great number of years dili¬ 
gently and unobtrusively pursuing their scientific calling. 
It may indeed be said that ever since they graduated at 
the Veterinary College they have gone on acquiring and 
storing up much valuable knowledge, and have thus be¬ 
come eminent practitioners; but I find that many of them 
object in the most strenuous manner to the notion or system 
of making the knowledge they have acquired common pro¬ 
perty. They will neither record their views in the Veteri¬ 
narian, nor will they place them by a viva voce description 
before our associations. The reason assigned for this is that 
their knowledge will fall into the hands of the common 
farrier, the groom, and the uneducated blacksmith, to employ 
it to their own advantage. 
Thus the profession is deprived of means which, being 
derived from accumulated knowledge and experience 
no one can doubt, would greatly enrich veterinarv 
science. Press these gentlemen, and they will say “no” 
a thousand times over. Whatever knowledge I may 
