ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE. 291 
address those by whom broken hints, if spoken with sincerity, would be far 
more highly appreciated than an eloquent speech of flattery 
The object of our meeting is, I am sure, one in which we all feel deeply 
interested, and which must excite in all of us feelings of great pleasure, in¬ 
asmuch as it is for the purpose of mutually expressing our gratitude to one 
whose kindness of manner as a teacher , and acquirements as a professor, have 
justly gained our universal respect and esteem. I refer to Professor 
Morton, who has for upwards of thirty years been labouring: in this institu¬ 
tion with great and distinguished success; his first object being the benefit 
of the student, to effect which everything that could assist has been brought 
to bear; and his second, though carried out with no less energy, the advance¬ 
ment of the profession at large. 
Those branches of science which it has been the province of our worthy 
teacher to instruct us in are Chemistry and Materia Medica, two very im¬ 
portant and highly useful divisions of our studies. That a knowledge of the 
former has done much to raise the profession to the honoured position it 
now occupies, cannot be doubted. 
The applications of the discoveries of chemistry to the arts of life, and to 
the relief of animal suffering in disease, are, in the present state of the 
science, both very numerous and very important, and encourage the hope of 
still greater benefits from a more extended research. Chemistry also offers 
very material assistance to us in the study of that very interesting division 
of science, Physiology. It likewise tends to enlighten the mind and enlarge 
the ideas, and he who makes it his study will find that it elevates him in the 
scientific world, and raises him in the estimation of his professional friends, 
as well as places him in a position whereby he becomes a respected and 
useful member of social and private life. 
Materia Medica teaches us the nature and composition of the agents we 
employ in the form of medicine, with the doses in which they should be 
given, &c. Without such knowledge, a veterinary surgeon knows but half 
his duty; for there are many cases which require a strict medical treatment, 
and unless the medicines are judiciously administered, the disease will be 
aggravated rather than relieved by them. It is a knowledge of such prin¬ 
ciples as these that distinguishes the true professional man from the char¬ 
latan, whose formulae are a number of musty recipes, which his forefathers 
have left him as being really wonderful and specific in their action, and, like 
most quacks, it matters but little what disease he may be called to 
treat, for he flatters himself that he has among his treasures a recipe y which 
is usually puffed off with this, which to him is a most inviting expression, 
viz., a certain cure. 
But to the educated veterinary surgeon puffing is hateful, and specifics he 
does not believe in. He has an ambition for something more noble than 
this, his basis being scientific principles, grounded on matters of fact; and 
having this for his foundation, he can in most instances explain the nature 
of the disease from which his patient is suffering, and foretell the action he 
expects to follow the agents given, and how they afford relief; which at all 
times entails on him a certain amount of credit, and gains for him both the 
confidence and respect of his employer. 
I feel assured, gentlemen, you will all agree with* me that w r e find quite 
sufficieut in the conduct of Professor Morton towards us as a teacher, to 
claim our warmest thanks; but w r e likewise find that his active mind and 
enterprising disposition have rendered him useful in very many ways, which 
greatly increase our obligations to him. 
It is well known that for many years he has taken an active part as 
co-editor with Professor Simonds in that popular monthly journal, the 
Veterinarian, which has been the means of diffusing much useful aud 
scientific information. 
