THE MODERN IIORSE DOCTOR. 31 



cause ; till, at length, active measures were adopted for promoting 

 the object. A resolution to this purport was now passed, which 

 read as follows : " That the parties had observed the good effects 

 produced on the public mind by the exertions of the friends to 

 the art, for its improvement, and approved of St. Bel's plan for 

 establishing a public institution for that purpose." The result 

 was, that an institution was soon endowed, which was named 

 ''The Veterinary College of London," to which St. Bel was 

 appointed professor. But unfortunately, that distinguished indi- 

 vidual had scarcely occupied the chair one year, when a sudden 

 and brief illness terminated his mortal career, and he was con- 

 signed to the silent tomb ere the laurels had scarcely encircled 

 his brow. 



Being thus cut off at such an early period, yet in the midst of 

 his usefulness, the prospects of the infant institution became 

 greatly affected — only for a short season, however. The college 

 was considered to be in a flourishing condition ; the Duke of 

 Northumberland had already contributed a sum equal in our cur- 

 rency to twenty-five hundred dollars, and the enterprise num- 

 bered among its stanch supporters such men as the Earl of 

 Grosvenor, Mr. Penn, Earl Morton, Drs. John Hunter and Craw- 

 ford, and subsequently that great surgeon and medical hero, Sir 

 Astley Cooper. 



Medical men hailed the new enterprise as one not only calcu- 

 lated to ameliorate the condition of suffering domestic animals, 

 but, what was of still greater importance to them and mankind, they 

 perceived in it a fruitful field for the cultivation of comparative 

 anatomy and physiology. "With this object in view, Dr. J. Hun- 

 ter assisted the friends of the new school both by his professional 

 influence and from his private purse. 



Although the college had been in existence but a brief period, 

 its pupils had gained sufficient knowledge of theory and practice 

 to distinguish themselves ; thus fully realizing the anticipations 

 of its founders. Among the first pupils who sought to qualify 

 themselves as efficient veterinary practitioners, we find recorded 

 the names of Laurence, Blain, and Clark. Each of these philan- 

 thropists has since left to the world a record of their labors, which, 

 even in this enlightened age, serve as useful guides to the young 

 aspirant for veterinary fame. 



