028 
INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
each other, and the harmony which exists in the whole. No 
written descriptions, however graphic, nor demonstrations, 
nor pictorial illustrations, notwithstanding their value as aids, 
can supply this knowledge. A practical anatomist possesses 
an immense advantage ; he will never be at a loss on emer- 
gencies, and will be enabled to maintain a calm and collected 
mind during the most critical operations. 
Besides these three, you have another auxiliary of con- 
siderable importance, namely, the meetings of the Veterinary 
Medical Association ; in connection with which is also the free 
use of the library. It is not easy to over-estimate the value 
of the association, being built as it is on the foundation of 
mutual instruction. Here the opinions of your teachers can 
be freely canvassed ; here, too, the statements of authors can 
be fairly judged, and the observations of your fellow-pupils 
impartially criticised. One thing alone is required to 
secure all its advantages, and that is free and open dis- 
cussion carried on with due consideration to the feelings of 
others. It argues well for the future success of the associa- 
tion that last year a greater number of new members were 
enrolled than had been the case for several years before, and 
that more essays of a superior order were read at its weekly 
meetings. This fact is shown by the circumstance that the 
Council have selected an increased proportion of the essays as 
being worthy of the special certificate of thanks of the associa- 
tion, the possession of which entitles their respective authors 
to rank as honorary fellow T s. 
And now, having glanced at the opportunities w T hich are 
placed at your disposal in the acquirement of knowledge, I 
must enter a little more into particulars, and analyse, as it 
w 7 ere, the several elements which combine to form the art of 
veterinary surgery. First, the subjects of the lectures. 
These, as you may expect, are multifarious ; and consequently 
some of them will receive more elucidation than others, your 
teachers exercising in this respect their judgment and ex- 
perience. We may name in the first place anatomy. “ The 
science of organization, which has for its object the examina- 
tion of the organs or instruments of life.” Anatomy is 
usually divided into human and comparative ; the former 
limiting its investigations to the structure of the human body 
alone, while the latter extends its ramifications of inquiry to 
all the other creatures of the animal kingdom. In one sense, 
then, veterinary surgeons are comparative anatomists, but it 
is theirs also to confine their researches to certain animals ; 
these being such as fall more immediately under the subju- 
gating power of man for the supply of his more pressing 
wants. 
