804 
THE VETERINARIAN, DECEMBER 1, 1839. 
Ne quid falsi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat. — C icero. 
THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SESSION 1839-40, 
AT THE ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE, ON 
MONDAY, NOVEMBER THE 18th. 
Professor Sewell, whose health has materially improved, 
entered the theatre, accompanied by several friends, about 12 o’clock, 
and was received with loud acclamation. He said, that, in conse- 
quence of the decease of Mr. Coleman, the high distinction of filling 
the chair which that gentleman had so long occupied had been con- 
ferred upon him. He feared, when he considered the high state 
of improvement to which the profession had arrived, that he should 
somewhat unworthily discharge the onerous duties to which he was 
called. He had, however, for more than forty years enjoyed the 
advantage of being associated with the former professor, and he 
must have been inattentive indeed if he had not, in some degree, 
profited by the opportunities which he had possessed. It might be 
supposed that it was with feelings of a very serious character that 
he assumed the chief direction of an institution like that over 
which he was called to preside. He would, however, endeavour 
sedulously to discharge his duty, and then he knew that he should 
have the good wishes and the support of every honest mind. 
In one respect, and a very important one, his situation would be 
different from that of his predecessor. The instruction of the 
pupil would now extend to other domesticated animals beside the 
horse. Preparation had been made for receiving them as patients, 
and he trusted that, in process of time, all the arrangements would 
be completed, and become alike advantageous to the institution, 
the pupil, and the agricultural body. 
The early history of medicine, whether human or veterinary, was 
involved in considerable obscurity. A brief sketch of it might not 
be unpleasing, and might enable the student better to judge of what 
it was and what it is at the present day. In the infant state of society 
the riches of the patriarchs were calculated by the number of their 
