616 
INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
a more elevated being, since his mind — the nobler part- — be- 
comes expanded by it, and all its powers are called forth into 
greater activity. It has many divisions and subdivisions, 
several of which apply to medicine, and therefore the vete- 
rinary student is required to be more or less conversant with 
them. Thus the principles of hydraulics are seen in the cir- 
culation of the blood, and the motion of the fluids of the 
body. The mechanical powers are exemplified by the mul- 
tiplied levers and pulleys of the frame ; the muscles through 
their tendons acting upon the bones, and also by the motions of 
the joints. The laws of optics explain many of the phe- 
nomena connected with vision, while the act of progression, 
and the paces and capabilities of the horse, may possibly 
receive elucidation by a reference to mathematics. Chemical 
action, it may be safely said, obtains throughout the whole 
of the organism ; nor can the functions of assimilation, secre- 
tion, and growth, be accounted for without it, and it also 
comes to our aid when those molecular changes occur that 
give rise to disease. Hence this division of natural phi- 
losophy has long had a place in all medical schools, and 
only very few persons have attempted to gainsay its worth, 
and those only such as were ignorant of it. 
The divisions, however, which I consider as necessary to 
be added to your curriculum, are Practical and Agricultural 
Chemistry , and Botany ; and the plan I would suggest for 
their introduction is simply that of giving a Summer Course 
of Lectures. I really think from May to October is too long 
a period for the mind to be allowed to lie fallow, since, I feel 
assured, that rarely students devote much time to study 
when at home. They have no incentives thereto, and the 
consequence is, that during the vacation much that has been 
acquired by them is forgotten. The hiatus may therefore 
be profitably filled up. Nor would this arrangement in- 
crease the length of the time at present demanded by the 
College, as one course of each of the above Lectures would be 
enough, and they would be given between the two winter 
courses. More clearly to explain. During the Winter 
Session, Lectures on the Anatomy, Physiology, and Pa- 
thology of the Horse and other domesticated animals, 
with the Principles of Chemistry as applied to Medicine 
and Agriculture, should be delivered ; and these with 
clinical instructions, infirmary practice, and dissections, 
would appropriately fill up your time. During the Sum- 
mer Session, instructions in Practical Chemistry, and lec- 
tures on Materia Medica, and Botany should be given ; 
and as at this period there are more patients in the infir- 
