679 
ON THK DISEASES OF CATTLE, &C. 
from being carried fully into effect. Among these are to be 
named the incompetency of its first Professor, and the policy and 
peculiar objects of*Mr. Coleman, who succeeded him; but. Gentle- 
men, it cannot be denied, and in my humble opinion every mem- 
ber of the Institution would be wanting in that respect which is 
due to the departed worth and talent of Professor Coleman were 
he to withhold his meed of praise from him who now “ sleepeth 
with his fathers” for the interest which he took, and the rapid 
advances which were made, in veterinary science under his 
auspices and direction. After the establishment of the Veteri- 
nary College, a host of writers upon this and other branches of 
the art appeared ; but our time would not be profitably occupied 
were I to go through the order of dates, names, and authors 
whose productions we have been favoured with. I can assure 
those whose inclinations lead them to consult these works, that 
they will rise from their perusal with no very elevated ideas of 
the importance of cattle medicine, or the means which were 
taken to improve it. If any among you thirst after such know- 
ledge, you may consult Boothby, Clater, Parkinson, Ringsted, 
Swaine, Stevenson, Tyndals, Topham, Towne, cum multis aliis. 
Some useful books in certain branches of cattle medicine have, 
however, been published, and among them I would mention, 
Hogg’s Shepherd’s Guide, Harrison on Rot, Peall on Foot Rot, 
and Skellett on the Parturition of the Cow, with several others 
whose names do not immediately occur to me. To Mr. Blaine, 
whose labours will always be esteemed as a great boon to the 
profession, and looked upon as one of the principal causes in ef- 
fecting the rapid progress of our art, is due the credit of attempt- 
ing to place on scientific principles the practice of cattle patho- 
logy ; but he who has devoted more time, and whose works I can 
place in your hands as worthy of your deep study, is a gentleman 
with whom I have had the pleasure of being acquainted for many 
years ; first as a valued preceptor, and since as an associate and 
friend. I allude to Mr. Youatt. His works on Cattle and Sheep, 
published by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, 
will ever remain monuments of his energy and his successful 
efforts to place this branch of science on its true basis. 
I have thus far proceeded to lay before you the history of cattle 
medicine ; but my narrative would indeed be incomplete, did I 
not speak of events which recently have been adopted to assist 
its progression towards the summit we all hope to see it occupy. 
The establishment of the Royal Society of Agriculture must 
ever be regarded as a grand era connected with its advancement. 
No sooner was this important institution firmly based, than means 
were taken to carry out one of its fundamental rules, which 
