640 ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
The President : The next subject is with reference to the 
great loss we have sustained by the death of Professor Syme, 
who was Chairman of our Sectional Examining Board in 
Edinburgh. I think anybody who had any personal ac- 
quaintance with Professor Syme must have felt, while in his 
presence, that he was before a very great man. He was a 
man of far higher European reputation than most gentlemen 
in his profession, and at the same time he was one of the 
most modest, amiable, kind friends any one could have. He 
has been attached to our profession for a great many years, 
and I, personally and as one of the profession, lament ex- 
ceedingly the loss we have sustained. 
Professor Gamgee , in rising to propose that a letter ex- 
pressing the great regret that this Council has experienced 
at the loss of so great a man as the President of the joint 
Board of Examiners in Edinburgh be sent to his rela- 
tions, said, It is with some difficulty I can speak on the 
matter. I have known Professor Syme now for a number 
of years, and he has been, at certain periods of my life, 
the staunchest and best friend I have had, and he was in 
reality the friend of our profession. It is not for me to say 
one word with regard to Professor Syme as a man of science. 
We know that his reputation was world-wide, and that he 
attempted not a little to introduce into human surgery cer- 
tain ideas he obtained from the practice with regard to dis- 
eases in the lower animals. He was influenced very much 
in some of his important operations by his knowledge of com- 
parative anatomy and comparative surgery, so that he was not 
really a silent spectator, but, with a mind of the broadest 
grasp, he sought knowledge wherever he could get it. I am 
certain that, so long as the Board of the College exists in 
Scotland, we never shall be in a position to have a Chairman 
more distinguished and more worthy of our greatest respect. 
I deeply regret the loss, and I think his place can really not 
be adequately filled, and I trust that an expression of regret 
will be forwarded from this Council to the members of his 
family in Edinburgh. 
The proposal was unanimously agreed to, and the Secre- 
tary was directed to forward a letter of condolence to 
Professor Lister. 
Professor Simonds suggested that the letter to Professor 
Lister should be drawn up by the President and the Secre- 
tary. The Council approved of the suggestion. 
The President announced that at the next meeting of the 
Council a successor to Professor Syme would be proposed for 
election. 
