746 
PROFESSOR SPOONER’S ORATION 
its due share of notice and study in this Institution; and as it 
is my duty daily to go round the stables of the College, and give 
such clinical instruction as the cases present, I shall at those 
times take frequent opportunities of adverting to the subject of 
veterinary jurisprudence. It is highly important, because upon 
the knowledge you evince with regard to it your professional 
position will often very much depend. 
You are frequently called upon in a court of justice to give 
your opinion, not only with reference to the existence of disease 
and its nature, but you must explain to the jury the probable length 
of its standing, and the present and future effects of it. You 
must say whether it is likely to be attended with only temporary 
or with permanent evil — whether, in fact, it may justly be con- 
sidered as constituting that state which is designated in law by 
the term Unsoundness. 
I am inclined, Gentlemen, to attach due importance to every 
branch of your studies. No distinction, however, can be made, 
for they are all most intimately connected with each other. 
Of what use, I would ask, would a knowledge of anatomy, 
physiology, and pathology be to the practitioner without an ac- 
quaintance with the means of cure? This leads us to therapeu- 
tics, or that division of science that treats of the application of 
remedies. 
Here the twin divisions of chemistry and materia rnedica must 
be dwelt upon ; and, happily, the time is come when they have 
been considered as deserving a place in your alma mater. 
It would be a piece of supererogation on my part were I to 
take up your time in advancing any observations on this subject. 
There is one who is most able to teach this division of science, 
whom I am pleased to see before me now, and who, although 
I have known him long — for we have been labourers together in 
the same field for many years — I have never before viewed in the 
same pleasing light as that in which I can regard him at the pre- 
sent time. He is now altogether free and unfettered in his posi- 
tion. He will thus be enabled to exercise the full energy of that 
mind, I would say that great mind, which he possesses, for your 
advantage. I allude to Mr. Morton, and on Wednesday next 
you will have an opportunity of hearing him in this theatre 
deliver his introductory lecture, at twelve o’clock. 
And now to you, my young friends, my junior pupils, I would 
venture, without giving offence, to offer a word of advice previous 
to parting. Punctuality is a most important thing to be observed. 
Appointments are debts There is a specific hour when certain 
instructions will be given at this Institution, and when the 
Lecturers will be found at their post, I trust, Gentlemen, you 
