ON THE ANATOMY, &C. OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 627 
sent improvement and the future welfare an^t advantage of the 
student, and will become more and more so, now that the practice 
of the veterinary surgeon is rapidly extending to all its legiti¬ 
mate objects. There is nothing more closely interwoven with 
the creditable and successful practice of your profession, than the 
science of chemistry. I am thankful to see him here to-day. 
To my brother practitioners who come to support and to cheer 
me on this occasion, I beg to return my warmest thanks. I feel 
all the importance of the subjects which I shall have to discuss, 
and the kindness of my friends, while it gives me additional zeal, 
imposes on me likewise additional obligation. 
“ As I proceed to describe the structure of our various patients, 
and the functions of every part, you, as you follow me, will be 
more and more convinced of the importance of this branch of 
our art; and therefore you cannct be surprised at the anxious 
feelings with which I now address you. Bear with me—t ke, 
as far as you consistently can, the will for the deed, and these 
imperfect lectures will not have been attempted in vain. 
“ The anatomy and physiology of our domesticated animals ! It 
is a wide, an interesting, and a noble field of investigation. The 
varied structure and functions of each, and its beautiful adapta¬ 
tion to the particular purpose which that animal was designed 
to fulfil. We shall have much to admire here—much to impress 
us with a deep sense of the wisdom and the goodness of the 
great Maker of all. Each animal, as he passes in review before 
us, will be perfect after its kind. It will differ from others whom 
we have domesticated, and from whom we derive much advantage ; 
but it will be perfect in itself—every slight variation of structure 
will be an exemplification of wondrous skill. I cannot conceive 
of a subject more interesting. 
If we consider it in a less but still a very important point of 
view, as connected with individual or national wealth, we cannot 
l)ut w'onderthat this important branch of science has been so much 
neglected among us. When the Veterinary College was first 
established, its institutors had in view not only the instruction 
of the pupil in the knowledge and treatment of the horse, but of 
every domesticated animal. This cannot be for one moment dis¬ 
puted. These objects, however, have not been fully carried 
out. There was one man, indeed, who came forward as a teacher, 
professing to occupy, and honestly occupying, this true and pro¬ 
per ground, and by his exertions as a lecturer and a writer much 
valuable information has been elicited with regard to this most 
important branch of veterinary science—the treatment of other 
animals beside the horse. The student will never rise from the 
perusal of the various works of this indefatigable man without 
