EDINBURGH VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
403 
long, a work of his own on the Anatomy, Physiology, and Diseases of the 
Horse and Cattle, he would leave behind him a name that would never perish 
from among us. 
“ I would now beg leave to say, that, from the instant we proposed to offer 
you this feeble testimonial of our esteem, the list of the subscribers was, in 
fact, a list of your pupils. It embraced them all. It included not only the 
junior students, who, although just introduced to you this session, had expe- 
rienced enough of you to appreciate your talents and your kindness, but those 
who have had the honour and happiness of knowing you still longer, and whose 
judgment of you will be sanctioned and applauded as long as our art exists. 
“ I wish, Sir, that it had fallen into much abler hands to have presented 
you with this testimonial. It is a sincere tribute of our respect. I regret 
that my humble abilities have not done justice to my subject, or to the feel- 
ings of those I have the honour to represent ; but trust that they will pardon 
me, although I have not conveyed to you, in language sufficiently impressive, the 
warm and genuine sentiments of their minds.” 
Professor Dick rose and said that he never felt more difficult} 7 in addressing 
any assembly than on the present occasion, when he was called upon to 
return thanks for the honour that had been conferred upon him. He looked 
back with deep and intense interest to the time when he was a veterinary 
pupil. He had difficulties before him which he then thought it was scarcely 
possible to overcome — difficulties arising from the circumstance that there 
was no one in Edinburgh at that time to afford him scientific instruction, 
or to direct him in the right path in which to pursue his studies. 
It happened, however, on his being introduced to hear a lecture from the 
worthy predecessor of his friend Dr. Knox, the late Dr. Barclay, that he was 
struck with the simplicity of that gentleman’s illustrations, and the clearness 
of his demonstrations ; and he thought it surprising that the veterinary art 
should have been neglected, while such illustrations were to be heard, and 
where its professors had access to such advantages. 
He had attended only a very few of these lectures, being then but a boy, 
ere he thought it possible that the time might come when he also would try 
to lecture. He formed to himself a resolution of this kind, which some 
might deem presumptuous, but which those whose approbation he valued would 
not only forgive, but approve ; still there were difficulties in the way not easily 
to be overcome. He determined, however, quietly and steadily, to obviate them ; 
and, after attending for some time on the lectures of the most eminent men 
which the Edinburgh Medical School contained, he felt more resolved to 
endeavour to rival them as early as possible. Still, actuated by this feeling, he 
proceeded to London, and, after residing there for a short time, diligently at- 
tentive to every passing event, and finding that it was possible to derive as 
much knowledge in Edinburgh as would lay the foundation for the suc- 
cessful working out of the scheme which he intently cherished in his mind, he 
considered that it was not necessary to remain longer in the English metropo- 
lis. After three months’ study there, he had the confidence to apply for a 
diploma, the time of residence not being then defined ; and he obtained it, 
yet not without certain sneers about his being a vulgar Scotchman. 
An opportunity soon afterwards occurred of his attempting to lecture, 
by the establishment of an institution in Edinburgh, something like the pre- 
sent School of Arts. That school, however, soon afterwards failed ; but, 
having once begun to lecture, he was determined to go on. 
Unfortunately for him, he had not a single pupil during the first year. In 
the next year he had four pupils, with regard to whom, as the object of his 
heart was to establish a class, the fee was limited to a guinea each. 
