ON MEDICAL CHEMISTRY. 
17 
you have only heartily and honourably to engage in the study of 
it, in order to become conversant with it. “ Wisdom is found of 
those who seek her.” Let each, then, influenced by honourable 
emulation, endeavour to excel the other. Let there be among us 
a spirit of ready and easy communication ; banishing that narrow- 
ness of mind which has too often been allowed to take so deep a 
root, and excited an unworthy and a prejudicial feeling of jealousy. 
Let the motto of our Association, “ Vis unita fortior,” be inscribed 
on our banners ; and let this incite us, so that by union the best 
interests of our profession may be advanced. 
I will only farther observe, that I hope to see the time when 
all the means required for the education of the veterinary student 
will exist within the walls of the College. It will afford me 
some gratification, if I shall have been the humble instrument of 
contributing to this. I hope that my having been the first person 
who introduced lectures on the medicinal agents employed there, 
may lead to the appointment of an abler and a more experienced 
teacher ; but until such an one is appointed — I repeat it — so long 
as the students require my assistance, these humble lectures shall 
be continued. 
I feel that some of the observations which I have ventured to 
submit to you are liable to objection, and that they would have 
become me better had they been delivered in the autumn of life, 
when Time had scattered his snows upon my head, and Care had 
wrinkled my brow'; but they have been given from a love of 
truth, and an honest conviction that they have not been uncalled 
for. 
I yield to no man in respect for the Professors at the College. 
I feel assured that each has contributed his share to veterinary 
science. They have also maintained its respectability, and ad- 
vanced it by their individual conduct : nevertheless, much has 
remained undone. This has not been their fault, because it 
was not their duty to perform it; besides which, it should not 
be forgotten, that the wants of the student were not, some years 
ago, what they now are ; for it cannot, must not, shall not be said, 
that veterinary science has not made some advances, while every 
other branch of knowledge has been rapidly progressing. 
Having made these prefatory remarks, I now come to the plan 
which I purpose to adopt in these lectures. The first division will 
include the principles of medical chemistry. Matter, with some 
of its properties, and the powers that influence it, will first be com- 
mented on. Next will come the sub-division of matter into two 
grand classes — imponderable and ponderable substances. Having 
disposed of the first, the second will embrace the consideration of the 
elementary bodies. Each elementary substance, taking, however, 
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