THE YOU ATT TESTIMONIAL. 
607 
preserving the equilibrium of animated nature, by obviating aggression or 
invasion from a superabundant accumulation of any distinct species to the pre- 
judice of the rest, for those after his own sacred image appear to be the first 
victims of this silent or self-acting system. By this immutable law of Nature, 
the destroying angel is there, sword in hand, though unseen. The assem- 
blage of undue numbers in any given space, no matter how pure the locality 
in all other respects, is alone capable of engendering the pest, but collateral 
circumstances hasten or protract its consummation and consequent fatality. 
Gentlemen, for thus entrenching on your valuable time I am sure your pardon 
is safe to me, because it is all J;o the just praise and glory of our friend in 
the tomb. 
Has he carried out practically in detail his grand principles of ventila- 
tion ? I answer for you all, yes ; but I will, single-handed, venture to ac- 
cuse him of a reckless and careless inattention in their application to the sta- 
bles of our blood-horses — I allude to racers and hunters of the first class ; 
these being all descendants of the horse of the desart, a uniform high 
temperature, as likewise to some plants, is indispensable to their perfection. 
Purity of atmosphere is not incompatible with a high degree of heat, if in 
constant circulation. But this master mind has left it open for some more 
humble workman to perfect his system — grand in itself, but rude in its exe- 
cution. His oft-repeated exclamation, “ No horse ever catches cold ” has 
caused much schism in the camp. 
Recall to mind the gloss, the splendid delicacy of the skin of a three-year- 
old Derby colt on the morning of the race, when his anxious trainer has justly 
and proudly announced him as “ fit to go.” Imagine this gem of the brute 
creation in a ventilated roof stable, in the year 1839, of her Majesty’s cavalry, 
at four o’clock in the morning, a strong north-easterly wind having suddenly 
set in. In justice to his station, we will suppose our friend honoured with 
the best berth in the ship — that is, nearest the ventilator. Now, I ask, is he 
not in danger of an over-dose of the external atmosphere, notwithstanding his 
double body-clothing? 
Independent of the general impression of chill, are there no delicate tissues 
within the caverns of the head, ears, or sympathetic nerves, to recoil from the 
blasts through the aperture in the wall nine inches square immediately over 
his head, with corresponding apertures below, opposite to his heels — cold cur- 
rents incessantly applied in one direction only? 
This is another instance of the exercise of man’s ingenuity for the benefit 
of the horse-kind as well as mankind, but adulterated with the admixture of 
some bane. 
Shallow reasoning, gentlemen — take my word for it — to contend that ahorse 
can’t catch cold. 
The reform I have to propose is, a much larger space to be occupied by the 
ventilators in the very highest and lowest parts of the stable, and, by the aid 
of simple contrivances through zinc plates, the streams of air may be ex- 
tremely subdivided ; in imitation of the scattered projected streams of water 
from the rose of a watering-pot ; and where a reasonable expense is not 
spared, a propelling force, self-acting, might be superadded from the outside 
of the building, by which apparatus a continued circulation of air within might 
be maintained. 
But more on this point another day ; I am travelling out of the record. 
Gentlemen, we will drink in silence to “ The Memory of Professor Coleman.” 
The Chairman again rose — he had now a toast to propose which came 
home to every one’s business and bosom : “ The Veterinary Profession and its 
continued improvement.” It was that by which we obtained our living — that 
which was the subject of our earliest and latest thoughts — it was a portion of 
the great science of medicine. It had been rapidly improving — many of those 
