10 
ON THE PROGRESS OF THE VETERINARY ART. 
JBj/ Mr. G. Baker, Reigate. 
Dear Sir, — In reviewing the progress of our profession during 
the past year, I see many causes for satisfaction at the good that 
has been already accomplished ; and I earnestly hope that the 
day is not far distant when its stability may be more firmly and 
undeniably established, alike by the unanimous concurrence of its 
individual members and the legal recognition of its claims by the 
legislature of the land. The stream of civilization is sweeping 
on, and we cannot arrest its progress ; and, whether willing or 
unwilling, we must be borne onward by the current. 
Such changes are inevitable. It has been well observed, that 
“ all national life is ever drifting on in a mighty current, which 
the strongest hand cannot for an instant stay. Each succeeding 
generation perceives around it a new scene of circumstance and 
being. We sweep past the roots of mighty mountains, of which 
the distant tops were but just visible to long-sighted men 
amongst our fathers. New interests spring up ; new combina- 
tions arrange themselves, and gather into solid strength. The 
whole face of society becomes altered around us unawares. They 
endeavour to act upon their old rules, and find with surprise, from 
the unexpected issue, how mighty a transformation had passed 
upon all around them whilst they dreamed not of it.” Far be it 
from me to blame or oppose this spirit of enterprise, which is the 
main spring of all that is great and admirable in existence ; but 
the true tact of success is to restrain its impulse within the bounds 
of probability, and not suffer it to expend its force in enthusiastic 
theories without practical results. I have watched with much 
satisfaction the progress of the new appointment at the Veterinary 
College. It must be a source of well-merited gratification to you 
to see the result of your long and unremitting labours at last 
successful, by the appointment of your old and respected pupil, 
Mr. Simonds, to the professional chair of that department of the 
science to which your attention has been so sedulously devoted. 
Honest, indeed, is the pride and great the consolation to one 
who has laboured arduously in a cause to which his energies 
have long been directed ; and to know the mantle has fallen upon 
one who has imbibed from him those truths he so zealously 
sought to enforce, and who will inculcate upon others the value 
of the knowledge so willingly poured forth, and so earnestly pur- 
sued. I feel that the ties that bind the instructor to the in- 
structed are of no common or ordinary nature; they grow with 
