AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON. 
9 
supposing him to be a man versed in practice) continual 
danger of doing harm, and thus thwarting any good he may 
effect. However prosperously he may conduct all ordinary 
cases, yet the moment any thing turns up in practice out of the 
common course of events, will he be reduced to the dilemma of 
seeking advice elsewhere, or (rather than do that) sacrifice the 
animal’s life to his own ignorance and self-conceitedness. 
From these observations, then, gentlemen, it appears that, in 
order to become good and efficient veterinarians, we must possess 
ourselves of much of the surgeon’s knowledge, as well as of that 
of the farrier, the groom, and the horseman : in other words, we 
must make ourselves acquainted with the science of medicine, 
and upon that knowledge engraft all that relates to the animal on 
which it is our intention to put it into practice. O ur art is no more 
to be learned at the anvil than the practice of human surgery is to 
be learnt in a barber’s shop. Its groundwork is set in science; 
and he who would practise it with any advantage to the public 
or credit to himself, must beforehand possess himself of that 
science. 
In reference to medicine, gentlemen, you will have to make 
yourselves acquainted with the anatomy of the horse. You will 
have to dissect and examine every part of his body, in order that 
you may see for yourselves the different materials of which it is 
composed; how those materials are cemented together to form 
distinct parts or textures; how those textures are united to form 
parts still more complicated, which we call organs; and how all 
these textures and organs are connected together into one whole— 
one entire and perfect body. Your success, gentlemen, in this 
branch of your studies, will rather depend on a patient and 
zealous prosecution of them than on any mental exertion: though, 
I will take upon myself to say, that you will find anatomy, 
when properly conducted, by no means to be that dry work 
which it is too often represented to be. An animal body may 
be said to represent a machine of the most perfect and beautiful 
construction, with not only powers within itself of unremitting 
operation, but with the means of self-repair, should any part of 
the machinery get out of order. Every part and organ is so 
admirably contrived and adapted to its end, that it seems difficult 
to select any one in particular by way of illustration : there is, 
however, in the horse one structure more especially, which 
while it lays claims upon us in practice greater than any other, 
yet evinces beauties in its anatomy and physiology hardly 
to be surpassed throughout the animal creation. I allude 
to the foot of the horse. To the mind of any ordinary 
observer, the hoof, perhaps, suggests nothing beyond a sort 
VOL. VII. B 
