206 THE PAST AND PRESENT STATE, &c. 
I wish to press this point more especially upon the consider¬ 
ation of us all. It is the duty of every member of the profession 
to contribute by his inquiries, his observations, his writings, and 
his actions, to the general welfare of the science; for there is no 
man who may not contribute something, and the credit which will 
be due to him will not h^for the performance of a mere duty^ but 
for the zeal and energy with which that duty is fulfilled. 
If such are the paramount obligations binding upon the pro¬ 
fession, what must be the duty of those whom we consider as the 
Governors and Council of our College—the regulators of our pro¬ 
fessional education ? It is not necessary in this part of our sub¬ 
ject that we should be led into the consideration of what has been 
done by them, or, rather, what has been left undone; for we have 
hitherto, I hope, omitted any thing that would lead to unprofit¬ 
able discussion, or cause unnecessary bad feeling or opposition. 
We may, however, with strict propriety, consider what is their 
duty now. For if it has been proved that it is absolutely neces¬ 
sary that an efficient system of public education should be carried 
out, and if the profession wants raising in character, it must be 
evident that those means which will accomplish so desirable an 
object it is their duty to adopt. In short, as the guardians of 
youth, the disseminators and cultivators of professional know¬ 
ledge, the duty of improving the state of veterinary science is 
theirs. 
Upon these simple words. Fulfil your duties^ rest all our hopes 
for the future; and according as they are carried out in all the 
various relations of life, public and private, according as genial 
sentiments of friendship and esteem prevail amongst the mem¬ 
bers of the profession, so will veterinary science prosper and 
increase. 
ir, on the contrary, duties are neglected, and slumber takes 
possession of us—if all social feelings are discarded—-if men 
whose intentions are good are subjected to abuse and hatred—if 
opportunities for diffusing truth are made the arena for angry 
dispute, or for the circulation of error—the profession will rapidly 
sink in the estimation of the public. 
Such are the hints I venture to press upon the attentive con¬ 
sideration of the profession. And if, in after-times, some one 
more capable than myself of handling this subject should take 
it up, my earnest desire is, that they may be able to say of the 
present race of veterinary surgeons, that their labours made the 
dark periods of our profession more visible, and added greater 
lustre to the light. 
