616 
THE YOUATT TESTIMONIAL. 
nary Chemistry,” and, although the Chairman was his brother, he would say 
of him that he had not been quite idle in so good a cause. There were 
others who had wTitten various papers which contributed to the value and 
effected the excellent purposes of our standard periodical. All would join 
him in his toast — “ Success to that mighty Engine the Press,” which, when 
conducted with integrity and honour, is one of the greatest blessings to our 
country. 
Mr. Ritchie briefly acknowledged this toast. He lamented his inability 
to do justice to a subject in which the interests of all present, and, indeed, 
of every one in existence, were deeply involved. Were it not for the Press, 
the philosopher might study, the chemist might experiment, and the veteri- 
nary surgeon might practise from year to year, but the results of their labours 
would seldom be known beyond the immediate circle in which they moved. 
But the Press gives permanence to discovery — it clothes knowledge in an 
imperishable garment, and rolls it, like a flood of light, o’er the nations of 
the earth. It had been truly called the Telegraph of Mind. Through it we 
communicate with the intelligent of every clime, and even hold converse 
with the illustrious dead. It brings back the past, secures the present, and 
transmits both to posterity. That an engine capable of effecting so much 
good should sometimes be employed for base purposes, is matter of deep 
regret ; but he had seen it used to decry merit — to war against right — and to 
pluck the well-earned reward from the hands of those who had sacrificed 
years in endeavouring to benefit their race. That such things might speedily 
cease, must be the wish of every honest heart ; and strong in hope that the 
time was not far distant when the productions of the mind would be acknow- 
ledged as sacred property, he would venture, though perhaps a little out of 
order, to propose a toast, which he doubted not would meet with a cordial 
reception: he would propose “The Rights of Authors — may they be fully ac- 
knowledged and ever respected.” 
Mr. Dickens then rose and said, — Mr. Chairman, in rising to offer to your 
notice the toast I am about to propose, I am sure that I have only to name 
it, and you will agree with me that we should be guilty of a gross dereliction 
of duty, did we omit it, “ The Country Practitioners.” Would, sir, that we had 
a greater portion of them with us to-day, to do due honour to our friend, 
Mr. Youatt. In the report of a late veterinary dinner, I was pleased to observe 
that Mr. Field, when speaking of veterinary works and veterinary authors, said 
that The Veterinarian was a library of itself, and I am sure there is not one 
present who will not agree with that talented gentleman. 
But, sir, such language, emanating from such a source, would be sufficient 
alone to raise any work not only in the estimation of the thinking part of the 
public, much more in that of the veterinary practitioner. If this work is of such 
acknowledged worth to you, the majority of whom are practising in this 
metropolis, where you have such frequent opportunities of meeting each other, 
of mingling in debate, and thereby making yourselves acquainted with the 
varied improvements that are taking place in our art, of how much more 
value must it be to those who, like myself, are practising in the provincial towns, 
where our patients, if not fewer, are certainly farther between, and there- 
fore requiring a greater degree of physical energy to accomplish our pur- 
poses with regard to them, and consequently leaving less time for diving 
into the depths of veterinary literature ! Thanks to Mr. Youatt, this chasm is 
now in part filled up, and you are thereby prevented from getting the long 
march ahead of us. For we have at the early part of every month an old 
friend looking in upon us, enwrapped in yellow clothing, representing the 
well known house of Youatt. Percivall, and Co. and offering to our notice 
