680 INTRODUCTORY LECTURE OF PROFESSOR SIMONDS 
is as follows. “To take measures for the improvement of the 
veterinary art as applied to cattle, sheep, and pigs.” 
You are most of you aware of the means* adopted by the 
Society to effect such a noble and patriotic object, and that Pro- 
fessor Sewell, your able and talented instructor, with whom I have 
now the pleasure of being associated as a colleague, was appointed 
the lecturer to impart, to the future members of the veterinary 
profession, instruction in this branch of their studies. I am sure. 
Gentlemen, that J have your deep sympathy when I add, that 
the declining health of this ornament of his profession has com- 
pelled him to relinquish this part of his labours: fervently as 
you join me in your sympathy, not the less so will you unite in 
the wish; that long may he be spared to accomplish more for the 
benefit of that science which is dear to him and to us, and upon 
which so much of the weal or woe of our country depends. 
Here, then, I may safely close my account of the history of 
that branch' of veterinary science which has long been received 
by the thinking portion of the community as a most important one, 
and one directly affecting our agricultural prosperity. The narra- 
tive is, I trust, an impartial one, and by its relation you must have 
seen that there has been a progressive improvement of knowledge 
upon this subject. Slow , much too slow , has been the advance ; 
impediments have been placed in the way ; but, happily, we may 
now congratulate ourselves that most of them are for ever re- 
moved. 
In this, an introductory address, and delivered at the very 
opening of the session by a new teacher and an inexperienced 
lecturer, you will, perhaps, kindly excuse me if I detain you a few 
moments, by bringing before you a portion of my own history as 
connected with my professional life. 
Long prior to my becoming a pupil at the Veterinary College, 
nay, even from my infancy, I had the benefit of the instruction 
of several members of my family, who for many years u r ere en- 
gaged in veterinary practice in the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk, 
as graduates from this Institution. In the beginning of the year 
1829, after having passed the ordeal of an examination, embark- 
ing on that sea of anxiety and trouble, namely, a professional life, 
I succeeded to the extensive practice of my ancestors, which I 
conducted fora period of seven years, when l w r as induced to reside 
more in the immediate vicinity of London, where, as many among 
you are acquainted, my attention has-been given, as heretofore, 
to the diseases of our domesticated animals, studying their various 
and complex maladies in the yards and pastures of the gentleman 
and agriculturist, and devoting my experience for their allevi- 
ation and removal. From this it will be seen that, for a period 
