INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS, 
613 
my opinion, an error at the beginning, and one which has 
tended to lower the profession, not only in the estimation of 
scientific men, but the public also. Not that there is any- 
thing degrading in the calling in itself considered ; “ labor est 
orare ;” which, in Mr. Carlyle’s pointed translation of the 
apothegm, means, “work is worship,” And doubtless, that 
man who honestly does his duty in the sphere wherein 
Providence has placed him, fulfils one of the ends for which 
he was created, and thus, it might be said, he offers praise. 
But there should have been no interference here. It has 
aroused a spirit of retaliation ; and if it be required that the 
“ eye of science should be over the hand of ignorance,” then 
should each have been separately educated, and a mutual 
advantage would have resulted. 
I am quite aware that in making these statements many 
that are present will not agree with me ; nevertheless, I 
unhesitatingly give them this publicity, from a conviction 
that I am right in the view I have taken. In large towns, I 
know, it is said to be absolutely necessary to conjoin a forge, 
since he who has the foot gets the body of the horse ; “ no 
foot, no horse.” Granted it is so, is there not another way 
of effecting this without the professional man becoming an 
artisan ? Cannot the latter be so relatively placed that it 
would be to his interest to work in accordance with the dic- 
tation of the veterinary surgeon ? Then would science as 
truly become the director of art. 
And now let us see how otherwise this junction affects 
the profession. We have become an incorporated body. 
The obtainment of a charter was unquestionably a wise act — 
a step taken in the right direction ; and I should be sorry to 
see any going back here. It has given us a status we did 
not possess before, although all has not been gained from it 
that was anticipated; for many, perhaps most members of 
the body corporate, have been looking for certain privileges 
and immunities. These, it should be observed, we are now, 
by virtue of our incorporation, in a position to obtain, as we 
are a recognisable body by the legislature, which we w T ere 
not before. And possibly the reasons why we have not 
obtained them may have arisen from errors at the com- 
mencement, or a want of union in the profession as a body. 
But suppose these privileges are obtained, if Mr. A. B., who 
is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, 
keeps a forge, he cannot lay claim to them ; for while the 
law exempts the graduated veterinary surgeon it does not 
the shoeing-smith, and Mr. A. B. answers to both characters. 
I would, therefore, that a disseverance took place, feeling 
