INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
769 
as you probably will in the theoretical. Mark you, we can 
teach neither theory nor practice unless you aspire to learn ; 
and be assured there will be no excuse allowed if, when 
called upon, you are found wanting. Monitors, eight in 
number, are appointed for the session from the senior pupils, 
and clinical clerks, six in number, are selected weekly, also 
from the senior pupils ; and it is a part of the duties of these 
gentlemen to gain an understanding of all that is going on, 
so that they may be able to render explanation to any of you 
who may desire to know the nature and treatment of any 
case that may be in the infirmary. 
The professor conducting examinations always feels a 
pleasure in informing the pupils around him of the sound- 
ness or causes of unsoundness in the horse under his inspec- 
tion, and in soliciting their unbiassed opinion upon cases 
with a view of exercising, as it were, their capabilities. If 
you, notwithstanding our advice and solicitations, do not 
seize the golden opportunity, we cannot force it upon you, 
nor are we aware of any means of attaining the^information 
which is necessary to make you what are commonly desig- 
nated good practitioners, unless you determine to exercise 
a good amount of close observation, and reasoning upon 
what will come daily under your notice. 
It is no lukewarm attention to these matters that will 
ensure success ; to become a judge of the seat of lameness, or 
to diagnose disease, requires all your diligence and plenty of 
practice. I may mention to you that during the last sum- 
mer several students attended the College for the purpose 
of availing themselves of the opportunities occurring in the 
vacation. Some of these men have so applied themselves 
that they have become good judges of the action, age, and 
vision of horses, can fairly diagnose disease, and, I may 
add, may be trusted with the treatment of cases ; but there 
are others, who have had exactly similar opportunities, 
and who have been quite as regular in attendance, but who 
have learned comparatively nothing. How is this to be 
accounted for ? It is true that difference in capacity of mind 
may to an extent ; but I think we shall find that, in by far 
the majority of instances, it is to be attributed to careless- 
ness ; there is a lack of that inward desire to progress which 
you must possess if you are to succeed. Let me, then, again 
appeal to you to seek earnestly to make yourselves efficient 
in this practical knowledge of health and disease ; recollect 
your ultimate success in life as veterinary surgeons depends 
to no slight extent upon it. Never allow a case, however 
trivial it may seem, to pass unheeded ; you may always gain 
