THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



439 



whose conscience accuses him of deficiencies in this re- 

 spect, let him henceforth turn over a new leaf; let him de- 

 termine in future to be honest to his time ; let the opening 

 of this session be to him the begbming of a new mind and 

 a more energetic course of action. It is not too late for 

 amendment. The vigorous decision to do better will go 

 far to enable him to make double use of time, and to accumu- 

 late useful information witli double rapidity. 



I have spoken of " the veterinary art" as meaning " the 

 practice of om- profession." Let us now say a few words on 

 veterinary science, which is the support of art. 



Scientific knowledge malves practice sound. The differ- 

 ence between the uneducated farrier and the veterinary 

 surgeon is, that the former has, it is true, to a certain ex- 

 tent the art, but it is unsupportfed by science, and the 

 practice of the art under such circumstances must indeed 

 be both poor and dangerous ; while the latter, by combining 

 science with art, is enabled to pursue his practice with tliat 

 confidence and success which cannot fail. Our profession, 

 practised as a science, in this country, scarce dates back 

 three-fourths of a century, which is but a short period for 

 the growth and full development of a science. It may be said 

 to have blossomed forth from agriculture, with which it is 

 now so intimately connected, and forms so ripe and useful a 

 fruit. In the year 1791, several noblemen and gentlemen, 

 members of an agricultural society, called the Odiham 

 Society, having the example set them by our Continental 

 neighbours, who had already established several veleriuar-y 

 schools, subscribed a fund, formed themselves into a govern- 

 ing body, and founded the Eoyal Veterinary College. Up 

 to the time of its establishment the sanitary condition of 

 our domesticated animals was placed under the charge of 

 grooms and charlatans, who had nothing to recommend 

 them but their boasted experience and the recipes handed 

 down to them by their forefathers. 



The state of things now, however, is far different, and if 

 we compare the present with those times, although we have 

 not yet reached that position in the estimation of the public 

 ■which we have a right to aspire to, and which it is my belief 

 we are destined to attain, we nevertheless have great cause 

 for self gratulation. 



The governors of the College have no other object in 

 view than the advancement of the profession ; and their 

 greatest anxiety is, so to conduct the affairs of this institu- 

 tion as to ensure the confidence and good- will of the body 

 politic and corporate. 



Anatomy, gentlemen, claims the first notice, and, if I may 

 use the expression, breaks the gi-ound of all medical science ; 

 in fact, without it the application of medicine and surgery, 

 both to man and the lower animals, would be unworthy of 

 the name of Science. AVere it not for the exploration of the 

 body by dissection, the existence of even the great organs 

 within would be unknown, We should know that a 

 horse had a skin, and certain other external perceptive 

 organs ; but that would be all. We should not be aware of 

 the heart, the lungs, the liver, the brain, the intestines, &c.; 

 and the diseases specifically affecting these parts would 

 only be apparent to us as so many occult causes of decay, 

 or of death. A haphazard remedy might]cure, in such a 

 case ; but it is cviileut that you are more likely to cure, when 

 by anatomical and physiological knowledge you are enabled 

 to form a correct estimate of the seat and nature of the 

 disease ; and, by comparative reasoning, experience thus 

 obtained will materially assist you in combating with simi- 

 lar symptoms iu future cases. Therefore, I say, a know- 

 ledge of anatomy is the essential requisite of the persistently 

 successful tn^atment of curnble disease, And reasoning 



onwards from this, the more profound the anatomical know- 

 ledge is, the more the body of our patient is rendered trans- 

 parent in the almost spiritual light of science, the more 

 clearly and intimately can wc tell what the disease with 

 which he may be afflicted is, and thereby place ouiselvea 

 upon the correct path of treatment, For it is with the 

 human mind, that when it has a piece of definite knowledge 

 presented to it, it seems lighted up from that part in many 

 directions, and defiaiteness of knowledge of the cause seems 

 often connected by sympathy with rapid conceptions of cure. 

 For this reason I regard tlic study of anatomy, the pains- 

 taking, memory-engraving study of it, as of inestimable 

 importance in practical veterinary medicine. It admits you 

 to the Freemasonry of the forms and functions of organiza- 

 tion, and gives, as it seems to me, a right, in the name of 

 conscience, to know something of cure, which the gazer 

 from the outside remains without a claim to attain to. 

 It shows you what can be done in surgery, and limits the 

 path whereby it ia done. By means of clear anatomical 

 knowledge, a humane daring, as it were, becomes engendered, 

 which simplifies and shortens operations, steadies our bauds 

 with the consciousness of safe knowledge, and saves our 

 patients much danger and much pain. 



Then, again, there is general anatomy, which investigates 

 the constitution of the tissues of organs, and seeks to carry 

 the torch of science into the most fairy-like avenues of organic 

 frames. I believe the man who pays a due share of attention 

 to this subject — provided he cultivates the other broader sub- 

 jects in their own great proportion — has, again, a right and 

 claim to know more of treatment, and to be a deeper and 

 keener practitioner, than the man who pooh-poohs structural 

 anatomy, and professes to practise without its aid, For, un- 

 doubtedly, many of the changes consequent on disease take 

 place in the more minute structures of the body. Indeed, it 

 is a question whether most, if not all the so-called functional 

 diseases, are not referable to a diiarraugement of the element- 

 ary or molicular particles of the organs they affect. To see 

 those changes, even though it be through the eye of artistic 

 genius, is at least to enable us to give the morbid symptoms 

 with which they are associated a local habitation and a name. 



Besides, I again say that the path of incessant iavestigation" 

 of unwearied opening of the eyes upon nature, leads to the 

 broad arenas where discovery aod iavention are imparted, 

 where struggle ia rewarded, and where, when the toil of the 

 way is suspended for a time, perchance quite unexpectedly 

 some new light in science, spontaneously as it were, dawns 

 upon the mind. 



Therefore, full of hope, I implore you assiduously to pro- 

 secute your studies ; diligently cultivate dissection, with a 

 view to obtain experience and tact in the use of the scalpel, 

 which you will find to be of great importance in assisting your 

 surgical skill ; lose no opportunity of attending posl-morlem 

 examinations, as by practical information thus obtained, you 

 will be materially assisted in diagnosing disease, and prog- 

 nosing its probable effects. 



Turning to the living animal : the field of application is clini- 

 cal practice. The daily experience of disease and treatment 

 which you will have the opportunity of acquiring within these 

 walla on this head, if you take advantage of it, will afford you a 

 fund of information. All your other knowledge is valuable in 

 proportion as it coatrihutea to practice, but it must be consi- 

 sidered as subordinate to it. Theory alone may admit you into 

 the society of the learned and the rich, but it can never support 

 you as veterinary surgeons, for without piactical tact and 

 skill you will be ridden over, rough-shod, by the charlatan and 

 the groom, Piseaie geen with your own eyes is the book of 



