MR. BAKER ON A VETERINARY ANNUITY FUND. 187 
to be beneficial to society. When we behold men good, mild, 
and benevolent, full of generous regard for the prosperity of others, 
compassionating the distresses of their suffering brethren, and 
relieving their wants, while engaged in the divine task of diffusing 
happiness around them, we naturally view them with esteem and 
regard. I have dwelt especially on the duties of philanthropy, 
because I am anxious to secure the support of the more wealthy 
members of our profession, who may not be direct partakers of the 
benefits arising from this fund, but may spare a trifle to contribute 
to the comfort of those less fortunate than themselves. Mr. Cherry 
has pointed out with great perspicuity the difference that exists 
between the trader and the professional man. The mind of the 
latter is his stock in trade; and, when sickness has enfeebled his 
body and diminished his mental energy, he can no longer keep 
pace with the demands of his professional career. The trader’s 
stock is without — it is independent of himself; but the man of 
science cannot impart to another the sound judgment resulting from 
observation and experience, because it is internal: it thinks within 
him, and is, in fact, an integral part of himself. This forms the 
vicissitudes in the lives of gifted men : they spend and are spent in 
diffusing the light of science; and it often happens, in spite of their 
greatest exertions, that their splendour is dimmed by an eclipse. 
All men are not qualified by nature for the stirring scenes and 
incessant activity attendant on the duties of professional life. Hence 
it is that many a man of talent has found his bodily strength wasted 
by excess of action ; and, long before he could realize a provi- 
sion for his family, has sunk beneath the burden of physical and 
mental decay. Can any benevolent mind contemplate the picture 
of the poor widow and orphans without sympathizing with their 
bereavements ! They have lost their earthly all, and are left to 
seek their means of life in a world which has little to bestow, but, 
perchance, its reproaches, or at best its pity. Here, again, the 
distinction between the trader and the professional man operates 
to the disadvantage of the latter. The tradesman’s widow may 
carry on the business for the benefit of her children. The stock 
remains, and can be kept up, and sympathy for her forlorn situa- 
tion may be the very means of increasing her connexion : but the 
widow of the professional man has no such resource. She cannot 
trade with her husband’s talents, and lay up a provision in the evil 
days that have fallen upon herself and family. I would earnestly 
exhort every member of our profession to give his aid to this in- 
stitution. Numerically speaking, we are a great and influential 
body; there wants but unanimity to make us powerful. It must be 
considered that the income derived from this self-supporting fund 
is free from the character of a charitable gift. There is a sense of 
