PROFESSOR SPOONERS ORATION. 
733 
Believe me, Gentlemen, although I readily complied with the 
request made by my respected colleague, that l would officiate 
for him on this occasion, I at the same time felt the weight of 
the responsibility which I incurred, and knew full well how in- 
adequate l was to the perfect fulfilment of the task. 
It has been usual, in former introductory addresses delivered 
in this Theatre, for the Lecturer to offer an outline of the origin 
and progress of the Veterinary Art, and particularly so as con- 
nected with the foundation and subsequent exertions of the 
College. This, however, has now become matter of history, 
many of our veterinary writers having given it a place in their 
valuable works ; consequently, in my humble opinion, the ne- 
cessity of your time being occupied by any feeble attempt of 
mine to embellish a “thrice-told tale,” is altogether superseded. 
Addressing myself, then, to those members of the College, and 
other friends, whom I have the honour to see before me, and to 
the students of the last session, I would say, “ bear with me;” 
while, to my junior pupils, I make a few imperfect remarks upon 
the importance of the profession which they have adopted, and 
endeavour to give a hasty sketch of the duties that imperatively 
devolve upon each of them in the pursuit of their studies, and 
also upon their preceptors, in directing them in that path which 
it will be necessary for them earnestly and diligently to follow, 
in order to render themselves competent practitioners of the vete- 
rinary art. 
Be assured, Gentlemen, that the science of which you are about 
to commence the study is one well worthy the application of 
your talents, and its pursuit will be found by you to be fraught 
with interest and profit to the mind. 
Veterinary medicine, as practised in this, and, I believe, in all 
other countries, is understood to embrace that branch of compa- 
rative medical science which applies to a knowledge of the ana- 
tomy, physiology, and pathology of all domesticated animals. 
What a wide field of research, then, is thus opened before us ! 
calculated to awaken all the energies of the mind to full exertion, 
and yielding to the assiduous labourer a rich reward. 
If my opinion were asked as to what course of study was most 
fitting to be pursued in order to exalt the mind of man from 
himself to his Creator, my answ'er would be. Anatomy and Phy- 
siology, as applied to the animal and vegetable kingdoms. 
We are told that, in ancient times, when, from ignorance, deep- 
rooted prejudices existed against dissections being performed 
upon the human body, the professors of medicine were so im- 
pressed with the necessity of possessing a knowledge of anatomy. 
