INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
629 
We are accustomed, and there are many advantages arising 
from it, to place the organization of the horse as the standard 
of comparison for the rest of the domesticated animals; and 
to speak of a bone, for instance, as having certain parts added 
to it, or wanting others, or being modified in its general out- 
line, in each particular animal as compared with the same bone 
of the horse. The mind thus educated, not only quickly takes 
cognizance of these differences,but retains them more lastingly 
than it otherwise would do. It is much to be regretted that 
in this country there is no work which especially treats of 
the anatomy of domesticated animals, although England can 
boast of as great and erudite comparative anatomists as any 
country in the world. Many of them are, however, for the 
reason we have named, and also from the circumstance that 
their investigations are confined to the lower forms of animal 
life, but very imperfectly acquainted with the details of the 
organization of domesticated animals. In this institution 
your teachers endeavour to supply this want as best they 
can. Whether it is the duty of any one of them to fill 
up this hiatus, is a question difficult to solve when viewed in 
its practical bearing. Such labours, and they would extend 
over several years, must be requited with something beyond 
mere honour, at least pecuniary loss must be provided against ; 
and until some of the obstacles which now stand in the way of 
this being done are removed, we fear that the day is far dis- 
tant when such a work will be the property of the veterinary 
profession. 
Besides the primary division of anatomy into human and 
comparative , each section is subdivided into descriptive, which 
treats of the form, shape, &c., of the different organs, and 
the relation they bear to each other; and general anatomy, 
which recognises the structure and physical nature of the 
tissues composing the organs. These divisions have special 
reference to an animal body when in health ; but as, by dis- 
ease, changes are wrought both in the form, composition, 
and physical condition of the organs, so we have to do with 
abnormal or morbid anatomy, called also pathological ana- 
tomy. From what has been observed, it is evident that no 
advance can be made in the latter until the former is 
thoroughly understood, for we must necessarily fail to re- 
cognise a change in a part, if we are unacquainted with 
its normal condition. A knowledge of anatomy then lies at 
the basis of all advancement in the healing art, and it is this 
knowledge which marks the difference between the man of 
science and the charlatan. One is master of numberless de- 
tails relating to his profession, which the other is entirely 
