[3] Mr. White says, "According to the present system of teaching in
these chartered institutions, there is very little benefit to be derived
by the student."
Mr. Blane experienced in his own person the results of this imperfect
system of teaching. He was sent for to fire a valuable horse, and gives
the following account of it: "It was my first essay in firing on my own
account, and _fired_ as I was with my wishes to signalize myself, I
labored to enter my novitiate with all due honor. The farrier of the
village was ordered to attend, a sturdy old man, civil enough, but
looking as though impressed with no very high respect for a _gentleman
farrier's knowledge_. The horse was cast, awkwardly enough, and secured,
as will appear, even more so. I, however, proceeded to show the
superiority of the new over the old schools. I had just then left the
veterinary college, not as a pupil, but as a teacher, which I only
mention to mark the climax. On the very first application of the iron,
up started my patient, flinging me and my assistants in all directions
from him, while he trotted and snorted round the yard with rope, &c. at
his heels. As may be supposed, I was taken aback, and might have gone
back as I came, had not the old farrier, with much good humor, caught
the horse round the neck with his arms, and by some dexterous manoeuvre
brought him on his knees; when, with a jerk, as quick as unexpected, he
threw him at once on his side, when our immediate assistants fixed him,
and we proceeded. It is needless to remark that I retired mortified, and
left the village farrier lord of the ascendant."
"It cannot be doubted that the best operators in this case are always
the common country farriers, who, from devoting themselves entirely to
the occupation, soon become proficient."
This admission on the part of a regular graduate of a veterinary
institution of London shows that the veterinary science, as taught at
the present day, is a matter for reproach. The melancholy triumph of
disease over its victims shows that the science is mere moonshine; that,
in regard to its most important object, the _cure of disease_, it is
mere speculation, rich in theory, but poverty-stricken in its results.
Hence we have not only proof that the American people will be immense
gainers by availing themselves of the labors of reforms, but, as
interested individuals, they have great encouragement to favor our more
rational system of treatment. (For additional remarks on this subject,
see the author's work on the Horse, p. 105.)