VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
703 
being- second to the human practitioner, he may be considered as a separate 
branch of the same body. I again thank you for the honour you have been 
pleased to confer upon me. 
The President said that there was another gentleman whom they would be 
guilty of the greatest ingratitude if they passed over in silence — he alluded 
to their worthy Secretary. The members of the society were little aware 
how much they owed to the indefatigable exertions of Mr. Morton. A very 
great proportion of the regulations of the Association emanated from him — 
they were all worked out by him — and many an hour was stolen from repose 
in order to give them full effect. He need not say as a chemical teacher 
how much he contributed to the improvement of the pupils, nor how highly 
he was estimated by them. He would propose his health, and he was sure 
that every heart would respond. 
Mr. Morton thus replied : — The immortal Shakespeare has said, 
“ Thanks 
To noble minds is honorable meed.” 
And, Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, from my heart and from my soul I sin- 
cerely thank you for the very handsome manner with which my health has 
been proposed and received. 
I should, indeed, be justly chargeable with the darkest of all crimes, ingra- 
titude, did 1 not express myself as strongly and as warmly as the power of 
language enabled me. I have received from you this night that of which I 
may be justly proud ; and I trust it will have this effect — it will increase my 
efforts to merit a continuation of your approbation. 
While the plaudits were being given I was thinking what I had done to 
merit them, or the part that I had enacted; and I could not help comparing 
myself to the hands on a dial-plate. They are extremely useful, it in ust be 
allowed, yet to them no thanks are due, for of themselves they are passive. 
It is the machinery within that moves them forward, and thus to tell the 
passing hour. Had I not received the support I have from those I see around 
me, and many more, the honours would not have been conferred on me which 
have been this evening; nor could I have been instrumental in the formation 
of the Association whose birth-day (as it has been felicitously expressed) we 
are met to celebrate. 
It is now ten years since the idea first suggested itself to my mind, that 
the union of veterinary surgeons and students would be desirable and attend- 
ed with the best results to veterinary science. Influenced by this impression, 
I ventured to address a circular to the profession, having for its motto that 
which is now the Association’s, for I felt convinced that “ power by union 
becomes stronger.” To make use, however, of a familiar phrase, “It did 
not take.” In the year 1836 was formed the Veterinary Medical Associa- 
tion. The causes which immediately led to it formation I will not dwell 
upon. Suffice it to say, that if aught was intended for evil, it has been pro- 
ductive of good. We now stand strong in our strength ! Is it nothing, I 
would ask, that in one short year we should enumerate nearly two hundred 
members ? and among them are to be found almost all that is great and liberal 
in the two professions by which the veterinary art has been advantaged. Is 
it nothing, that in the same short space of time we should have a library of 
above 400 volumes, and have been enabled to return, with our best thanks, 
those books which were so kindlv lent to us by friends at the commence- 
ment ? These are some of our fruits. The published proceedings of the 
Association will shew you more ; and that we are progressing, let the trans- 
actions of this evening, and the names of candidates for membership that I 
have had the gratification of announcing, furnish you witli proofs. 
Hitherto, we have been content with collecting the treasure which has lain 
