INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
623 
inaugural address, delivered last year. And this I might 
have done before, only I was desirous of showing that a 
oneness of opinion exists between us on the subject. 
To practitioners of veterinary medicine in the country, 
the collateral sciences of Agricultural Chemistry and Botany 
will prove both interesting and profitable. As they are pro- 
ceeding to visit their patients, every field they pass will 
awaken some thought respecting the character of the plants 
growing there, the nature of the soil, and the probable result 
of the adoption of a certain mode of culture, or the employ- 
ment of certain manures. They will also be frequently in- 
terrogated by the scientific agriculturist, should disease show 
itself in a locality, as to its probable cause ; and as this very 
often arises from the food partaken of, in which changes have 
taken place that they can readily account for through an ac- 
quaintance with these sciences, so they will advise the adop- 
tion of such measures as will prevent a recurrence, thus 
ensuring the confidence and continued support of their 
employers. 
It is as much a mistake to suppose that there is any loss sus- 
tained by thus acting, as it is that the duty of the veterinary 
surgeon is not to prevent as much as in him lies, by the timely 
use of prophylactics or other preventive measures, the out- 
break and spread of a destructive epizootic. Man is a 
social animal. “ Love thyself last,” is the admonition of the 
sage. I would ask — Has the profession been advantaged 
by the continued prevalence of pleuro-pneumonia ? Or, have 
the resources of science yet discovered a remedy for it? 
And is not this, in the opinion of some persons, who are ig- 
norant of the nature of the disease, considered an opprobrium 
to medicine? He may not, it is true, be able to stand up 
between the living and the dead, and stay the plague ; but 
Tis his to alleviate the sufferings of animals placed under 
his care, lower in the scale it is true than man, but equally 
with him objects of the Creator’s care, for He has told us so. 
A sordid love of gain is not, and should not be, his incentive 
to action, but the nobler philanthropy of doing good. Fre- 
quently, alas, he finds all his efforts are in vain, and often he 
has to contend with the charlatan, who boastingly asserts he 
has a specific for the evil — 
“ Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” 
and cc putrescence always gives life to a host of loathsome 
maggots.” 
Now, gentlemen, in what I have suggested as additions to 
your studies, it will be remembered I speak not by autho- 
