402 
EDINBURGH VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
whatever humour the toast had been introduced, he felt it as a compliment, 
and he begged to return his warmest thanks. He was proud to find that his 
school increased in so rapid and extensive a degree, and still more to know 
that his pupils were rising in estimation, and were now entitled to assume a 
standing in society to which, a few years ago, they would not have dared to 
aspire. He hoped that they would continue to improve in scientific knowledge, 
and prove themselves worthy of the boon which they had received. 
Dr. Ferguson now rose, and thus addressed Mr. Dick : — 
“ I am requested by my fellow- students to express to you, Sir, the high sense 
which they entertain of your noble and patriotic exertions in establishing a 
school for the promotion of the veterinary art in Scotland. The progress 
of your institution has realized the most sanguine hopes, and far surpassed 
general expectation. It still progresses — yearly increasing in its power to 
effect the most important objects contemplated in its establishment ; whilst 
you, Sir, have the gratification of reflecting, that by you the plan of the insti- 
tution was first promulgated, and in consequence of your energy and zeal it 
was finally and triumphantly adopted. 
“ It may, perhaps, be still more pleasing for you to reflect, that your insti- 
tution was admitted to be of so valuable a kind as at once to secure the pa- 
tronage of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland; and that, 
through the instrumentality of their president, your pupils have now the 
honour and the right of holding commissions as veterinary surgeons in the 
army of Great Britain, and in the East India Company’s service. 
“ The art dates its origin from the most antient times. It was known to 
and cherished by the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans. It declined 
in the middle ages, and was, in a manner, extinct ; but it at length began to 
revive, when the severe epidemics that raged on the continent first aroused 
the different governments, and taught them again to cultivate an art that had 
once been so useful, and to establish veterinary schools every where. France 
nobly led the way. The art relating to the horse made great progress in 
England under Professors Coleman and Sewell; and with respect to the other 
domesticated animals, we are under much obligation to a gentleman well known 
to you — Mr. Youatt, of the Zoological Society of London ; but it was left to 
the master mind and fostering care of Professor Dick to improve “ the veterinary 
art in all its branches” — to cause it to be ranked as a cultivated science, and to 
make the veterinary surgeon respected in the eyes of the public. Like a delicate 
plant our art first shot forth : the soil around was arid, and chilling blasts 
threatened its destruction. You, Sir, shielded it with the mantle of science, 
and removed every noisome weed from around it. You carefully watched over 
and nurtured it, and it has grown, and become strong, and borne the richest 
fruit. To the strenuous exertions made at 3 r our institution it is owing that 
all classes of society are now taught to value the educated veterinarian in 
preference to the farrier, the cowleech, and the mere pretender. In whatever 
parts of the world we may roam and observe the blue blanket of Edinburgh 
unfurled over our heads, it will put us in mind that we once had the honour 
of being pupils of Professor Dick, and it will stimulate us to the more ardent 
study of our profession. I have witnessed with unfeigned satisfaction, during 
my attendance on your lectures, the able and energetic manner in which you 
have invariably delivered your instructions on the different branches con- 
nected with the veterinary art, and the never-failing impressions they made 
on the mind. 
“ There are several works on veterinary science, but, in my mind, they are 
not all that we could wish them to be, nor in every respect worthy of the art 
which they pretend to elucidate. They are not fully worthy of your institu- 
tion. If, Gentlemen, we could induce our excellent Professor to give us, ere 
