76 
THE ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
institution. I longed for some object that would admit even of a 
show of praise ; for, in truth, I shrunk from the task which my 
that-day’s-visit seemed to have imposed upon me. 
“ Stay,” said I, recalling the party who had just quitted my 
side : “ chemistry is taught in this College, is it not] ” 
“ Oh yes, sir,” was the ready reply. 
“ Well, then,” I answered, “I have not seen the laboratory. 
May I trespass so much further ] ” 
“ Laboratory ! Laboratory, sir ] Why, there is no laboratory 
here, and never was.” 
Confounded at the answer, though somewhat amused by the 
surprise of the speaker, who evidently viewed my request as one 
of a most unreasonable nature, I asked — “ If there be none, how 
does the gentleman who professes chemistry prepare the experi- 
ments necessary to illustrate his lectures 1 ” 
“ Oh, very well, sir. He gets his things ready in the phar- 
macy.” 
“Ah! just so” — as an itinerant lecturer prepares his tricks in 
the back kitchen of a ladies’ seminary before he proceeds to alarm 
and surprise the little dears by a display of all the wonders of 
science. 
I hurried through the wicket, lowered in my own estimation, 
and smarting for the honour of my profession. When, checking 
my speed, I turned round to take a last look of the place called 
the “ Royal Veterinary College,” I could not help conjuring up the 
magnificent edifices which, as medical institutions, adorn the 
country ; and though rivalry might not be expected, I became con- 
scious that the dissimilarity was here too great even to admit of 
contrast. A school without a school-room — a library without a 
place to read in — a demonstrator without a place to demonstrate 
in — a chemical class without a laboratory — a museum without a 
catalogue — stables badly ventilated — a theatre badly lighted — the 
gateway closed — the slaughter-ground exposed — things that were 
valueless if not seen locked up — objects that decency would hide 
made public; — the whole left a melancholy impression on my 
mind. How could my profession attain the rank which, its merit 
justly considered, it asserts, when a stranger can walk to Saint 
Pancras, look on the bareness of the Royal Veterinary College, 
and say to himself — “ Here is the head and representative of a 
class which would be regarded as a worthy portion of the scientific 
body ?” 
Yet the building has capabilities, were there spirit and inclination 
to turn these to advantage. A damp locality and badly chosen 
situation no genius could remove; but the ground occupied, if 
properly employed, would afford all that accommodation which ample 
