601 MR. youatt’s introductory lecture. 
veterinary practitioner; and about forty years ago the founda¬ 
tion of the Colleg-e at St. Pancras was laid. 
From that period, the character and condition of the practi¬ 
tioner of veterinary medicine has materially improved. The rank 
of commissioned officer, when appointed to a cavalry regiment, 
gave him a station in society to which he did not before dare to 
aspire. Men of education united themselves to the profession, 
and obtained for themselves, and, in some measure, for their 
brethren, the esteem and confidence of the public, by scientific at¬ 
tainments and honourable practice. Whether all has been done 
that was justly expected, and might have been accomplished, is 
a question into which 1 do not here wish to enter. Perhaps the 
veterinarian over-rates his claim on the public,—perhaps he has 
not patience to await that gradual rise in public estimation 
which it required centuries to effect as it regarded the practi¬ 
tioners of human medicine, and, compared with whom, he la¬ 
bours under many a disadvantage;—perhaps he unjustly de¬ 
mands the respect of the public, while he does not strenuously 
aim to deserve it. It cannot be denied, however, that there has 
been something faulty in the management of those to whom the 
interests of the veterinary profession were entrusted. The edu¬ 
cation of the pupil has been far too limited. The knowledge of 
horse practice will not and cannot guide to that of cattle. The 
knowledge even of the horse cannot be acquired by magic. 
Five or six months will not transform the porter or mechanic into 
the man of science. Five or six months will g*ive little know¬ 
ledge that can be turned to useful purpose of the structure and 
diseases of the wide circle of domestic quadrupeds. 
These, however, are subjects which I do not wish to agitate. 
It is necessary for me in this introductory lecture to glance at 
the present state of our profession ; but, this lecture ended, I will 
not forget that my concern is with the education of the student, 
and the practice of the veterinary art; and, without abandoning 
a single principle which I have elsewhere avowed, or one of 
those objects in the attempt to accomplish which I have been 
P ermitted to ally myself with many of the best of my brethren, 
pledge myself, that neither openly nor covertly, directly or in¬ 
directly, shall veterinary politics mingle with these lectures, but 
they shall be honestly devoted to the instruction of the pupil 
and the search of truth. 
These lectures are designed, first and chiefly, for the veteri¬ 
nary pupil. If the metropolis contains more than tw enty schools 
of human medicine, surely a second teacher may dare to em¬ 
bark in the humbler province of veterinary instruction. Dis¬ 
avowing all dishonourable and hostile opposition, surely 1 may 
