TESTIMONIAL TO PROFESSOR MORTON. 
529 
I must be permitted to say that I did not think I should have had 
so much decided opposition to contend with, since, as it appeared to me, 
the necessity of the thing was so obvious, that that alone would have 
disarmed all opposition. But such was not. my good fortune. It was 
said, and said too often to be pleasant, that there was no need of chemical 
instruction within the College; that the student might avail himself 
of the privileges which then existed without the institution, which were 
quite sufficient for all his wants; and sometimes it was even boldly 
asserted that chemistry was not necessary for the education of a veterinary 
surgeon; a statement I hold to be as destructive as it is fallacious, and 
calculated, if it were acted upon, to throw back the science of veterinary 
medicine into the dark and brutal ages of farriery. There was, how¬ 
ever, another section of my lectures that certainly did not meet with 
so much opposition. It was allowed that some necessity did exist for 
instructions being given on the medicinal substances employed by the 
veterinary surgeon. But I think the advocates of this view of the 
matter did not reflect upon the fact that an acquaintance with the 
principles of chemistry is called for before materia medica can really be 
understood. Besides which, how often do they come to the aid both of 
physiology and pathology ? so that, like the links of a chain, one is 
bound to the other, gaining and giving strength by union. Still, despite 
opposition from those I will not now name, I, nevertheless, persevered; and 
some good, I hope, has resulted. A portion of the fallow ground has 
been turned up, a little seed sown which has yielded fruit; the most 
grateful, perhaps, is that which I am reaping this day. The kindness, 
indeed, which has accompanied the presentation of this testimonial has 
been so marked as to raise it highest and first in my estimation. My 
successor has a rich field before him, from which much may be gathered ; 
nor will he meet with the difficulties I have; for we all know that he who 
first opens up a pathway has more to do than those who follow him in it, 
and the first plunge into water is always the coldest. Yet, although this 
is the case, I have frequently thought, nay I feel convinced, that the 
opposition I have met with has generally resulted in good to me. Thus, 
as Shakspeare says, 
“ There’s a divinity that shapes our ends. 
Rough hew them how we will.” 
I well remember that the first opposition of any moment arose at a time 
when, perhaps, I least expected it; and much was said and much was done 
too, that I care not now to remember. Faction seemed to have done its 
worst; and then it was that I wrote my ‘ Manual of Pharmacy for the 
Student. 5 I had long promised the pupils that such a work should be 
attempted by me, but I had never dared to make the attempt until this 
threatened opposition came, when I boldly set to work and thus fulfilled 
my promise. Now, as that ‘Manual’ has reached its sixth edition, I am 
willing to believe that it possesses some merit; the profession being 
its judges. 
Not long after that, and again in self-defence, I compiled the ‘ Toxico¬ 
logical Chart, 5 on a second edition of which I am now engaged; and, when 
peace and concord seemed to have returned, I wrote two essays upon 
‘ Calculous Concretions in the Lower Animals,’ which were read by me at 
the meetings of the Veterinary Medical Association, and subsequently 
dedicated to my colleague, Professor Spooner. These, being out of print, 
may hereafter appear in another form. 
Thus a brief history of my feeble literary efforts, in connection with 
veterinary science, has been given you. I leave out of notice here those 
