962 
VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
“ Burnt clouts, chalk, and clay, 
Powder of bone, scalings of iron, glass. 
And worlds of other ingredients 
J Twould burst a man to name ” — 
have given place to the fruits of common sense and science ; and^vhen we 
contemplate the condition of the more elevated sister art, there must be 
great allowance made for the ignorance, and blunders of the veterinary 
practitioner. It need not, therefore, astonish us to read in an author of 
“ forty years’ experience ” that a nerve is a long, small bone, with very fine 
pipes, or hollow fibres, wrapped up in dura mater, or pia mater, which not 
only covers them all in common, but also encloses every fibre in particular ! 
We shall now bid adieu to the reminiscences of medicine during the 
period of its history, which reflects little credit on its character as a science, 
and approach the time when the discoveries of Cullen, Black, Savoisier, and 
others in chemistry, and the researches and experiments of John Hunter, 
and other eminent English and French surgeons, shed a lustre on the pro- 
fession, and advanced its character and usefulness. At this time, too, the 
veterinary art began to draw attention. Although farmers do not get much 
credit in originating schemes for social melioration in general, it is satisfac- 
tory to be able to state the fact, that the first impulse given to the veterinary 
art, was by a body of farmers, composing the Odiham Agricultural Society. 
At a meeting held on the 29th July, 1785, the following minute is 
entered: — “Resolved, that farriery is a most useful science, and inti- 
mately connected with the interests of agriculture, and it is in a very im- 
perfect, neglected state, and highly deserving the attention of all friends of 
agricultural economy. That farriery, as it is commonly practised, is con- 
ducted without principle or science, and greatly to the injury of the noblest, 
and most useful of our animals. That the society will consult the good of 
the community in general, and of the limits of this society in particular, by 
encouraging such means as are likely to produce the study of farriery upon 
rational and scientific principles.” 
The subject was discussed at various subsequent meetings ; and in 1789 
it was “ Resolved that for the complete establishment of farriery on rational 
and scientific principles in this country, such institutions for education are 
necessary as have been established in France and other places.” 
The useful and persevering labours of this society, in this particular 
sphere, were terminated on April 26, 1791, on the establishment of the 
Royal Veterinary College, in London, which it was the principal means of 
setting on foot. M. de Sainbel, a French veterinarian of eminence, was 
appointed Professor, and he commenced his lectures with four students. 
Stables and other offices were erected in the year after, but before the end 
of the session, 1792-3, the Professor died, at which time there were four- 
teen students, and fifty horses in the infirmary. Messrs. Moorcraft and 
Coleman, a medical gentleman of great ability, were afterwards appointed 
joint Professors. The former soon resigned, and the latter, feeling his own 
inadequacy, wished to do so too, but was prevailed on to continue, and he 
held the professorship for nearly half a century, much to his own credit 
and the benefit of the publie. Since the establishment of the Veterinary 
College, it has been gradually extending its beneficial influence in all quarters 
of the globe. The medical treatment taught there is extended alike to the 
troop horse on the banks of the Ganges, the Dragoon’s massive steed in 
St. James’, the Farmer’s nag, and the Gypsy’s ass on the common; as 
well as to all our domestic animals. The expenses of the college, which 
are considerable, are partly defrayed by Government — its other resources 
are derived from the students and subscribers. Some forty-five years ago 
another school was opened in the University of London, which was taught 
