654 
OBITUARY. 
College no opportunities of extending his information were allowed 
to escape. The lectures of all the eminent medical teachers then 
open to the veterinary student were eagerly and zealously attended : 
he became a member of the Westminster Medical Society, which 
led to the idea of his founding, in conjunction with Youatt and a 
few others, the Veterinary Medical Society, which, under a 
modified form, still exists. His success in practice was all that 
such a foundation had a right to expect. He was universally 
respected in his neighbourhood, and was enabled to retire from its 
more active duties some time before his death. 
It is to Thomas Mayer we are indebted for the Charter of the 
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Sterner reformers 
had, indeed, appeared before him, demanding improvements and 
alterations in the Veterinary College. That College had itself 
applied for a Charter to increase its influence and confirm its 
power. But, for the enlarged idea of a Charter based on the 
necessities of the profession, and constructed so as to enlarge its 
utility and enhance its advancement, we are indebted to him — 
alone, we were going to add ; but let us not, in our respect for the 
dead, forget the just claims of the living. Thomas Walton Mayer, 
the worthy son of his father, went hand in hand, not only as parent 
and son, but as friend and friend in carrying out the great and 
glorious work. Let this, however, pass — lie will not regret should 
the elder branch have every iota of the honour due to both. 
Did he retire when the victory was won, and rest content with 
his laurels ] Let his untiring exertions as Vice-President of the 
College, as Member of the Council, as one of the Board of Exa- 
miners, reply. So far from time having dulled his desire for 
knowledge, even after the last appointment had been accepted by 
him, he was continually occupied in reviewing or adding to his 
professional knowledge, to the last day of his life — and to the last 
day of his life did his zeal and anxiety for the well-doing of the 
profession extend. But three days before his decease our worthy 
Treasurer received a letter from him, in which he expressed his 
gratification at certain alterations now in contemplation in the bye- 
laws, calculated to unite the body as a whole more amicably than 
had hitherto been done ; and the very day before, his old and 
valuable friend, Mr. Robinson, received a communication from him, 
reiterating the same gratification. 
Considering his energy, his extended course of reading, and 
long and extensive practice, it is to be regretted that he abandoned 
an idea he once entertained of conducting a journal in conjunction 
with Professor Sewell ; having done so, however, we find the 
whole of his literary contributions to the profession are contained 
in The Veterinarian : they range over a period from 1834 to 
