775 
MR. MAYER’S ORATION. 
[We sum up this most valuable collection of hints to the student 
with the admirable Oration of Mr. Mayer, sen., of Newcastle- 
under-Line, at the commencement of the meetings of the 
Veterinary Medical Association, in the Session 1841-42.] 
Mr. President and Gentlemen, — T he honour and duty of de- 
livering the annual Oration to your Association have devolved 
upon one who wished it to have been placed in hands more able, 
and more competent to do ample justice to the subject than I 
can. However, I am not one to shrink from the path of duty, 
which invariably is the path of safety; therefore I trust you will 
take the will for the deed. 
It is now nearly thirty years since I had the honour of first 
mooting the formation of the Veterinary Medical Society, the 
parent of your Association. The original idea of its establish- 
ment arose from my being a member of the Westminster Medical 
Society — a society which was then intimately connected with 
the Hunterian School, in Windmill-street. 
I was forcible struck with the great advantages that must re- 
sult to the veterinary students if an institution, conducted upon 
similar principles, was established in connexion with the Vete- 
rinary College. The subject was immediately mooted among a 
few of us, consisting of my old friend and fellow-collegian, Mr. 
Youatt, and Messrs. Habgood, Henley, &c., who gave its forma- 
tion the warmest support. Our society, in its nascent state, 
stood for a short period insulated from the College. Afterwards, 
the worthy patron of our Association extended his fostering care 
over it, and, ultimately, our late lamented Professor, under whose 
auspices it continued, assailed by tempests within and without, 
until nearly the period of his death. I shall not touch upon the 
painful circumstances which led to the dissolution of that society ; 
let us throw the veil of oblivion over them. Nevertheless, every 
one must allow that it had worked well for the advantage of the 
student during its period of existence. 
Although, Gentlemen, the rude and withering hand of Time, 
as well as the equally ruthless hands of men, had given a death- 
blow to the parent of our Association, it is highly gratifying to 
me to be able to congratulate you on the vigorous offset which 
I behold sprung from the parent root, and which has shot into 
life like a phoenix emerging from the ashes of its mother. 
Let this Association be fostered and cherished by you. Gentle- 
