INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
614 
not to say, that every one who has systematically pursued 
them has become of necessity enamoured of cruelty, and is 
out of the possible pale of the healing art. 
I hope, gentlemen, the voice of indignant humanity will 
rise far and wide, from our profession and' from the excel¬ 
lent society to which I have alluded—nay, and from all 
England, where compassion is ever quick To flow towards 
suffering—until this bloody spot on the veterinary schools 
of France is wiped away for ever. It is most painful to me 
to be forced to comment upon the proceedings of our 
neighbours in terms so harsh, when a very high form of 
friendship ought to reign between us. But there is no help 
for it; and I feel that I should be doing the profession in 
France an injustice, did I not protest with all my heart, 
with all my mind, and with all my might against acts which 
are destructive of the best interests and tendencies of science, 
as well as shameful to civilisation, and utterly hostile to 
every pretence of any maxim of Christianity. 
Vivisection for physiological exploration may or may not 
be justifiable, in rare instances; but, if practised, it always 
ought to be done under some anaesthetic influence; and the 
doing of it should be avoided by every conscientious physio¬ 
logist, whenever possible. I may add that physiological 
schools of vivisection, in which all sorts of animals are cut, 
and slashed, and sawn open, for mere repetition to the eyes 
of students, are as infamous in cruelty as Alfort or Lyons. 
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals must 
keep its eyes open to check the tendencies to these horrid 
practices, which, it is to be feared, are budding forth in this 
country, and bring the public opinion, and the law of England 
to bear if necessary, to root them out (loud applause). 
And now, gentlemen, adieu ! Our profession, in which 
great diversities of opinion, and even, occasionally, some 
wars, have existed, reposes now, like a peaceful land, under 
the sceptre of the Boyal College of Veterinary Surgeons; 
and this our College, like a commonwealth federated to the 
whole body, pursues its avocations without fear and without 
favour. Unanimity may be said to reign. Reforms, as their 
necessity becomes apparent, are adopted: merit is, I verily 
believe, the chief step to success and promotion: there is 
great singleness of aim on the part of the members generally, 
and I think I may calculate upon the accordance of all here 
when I say, in conclusion—may the veterinary profession 
prosper, and increase in appreciation and usefulness, to the 
end of time ! 
