IN GREAT BRITAIN. 
455 
his “ Veterinary Outlines/’ informs us that, prior to his 
entering the College, he was brought up as a human surgeon, 
and that on his becoming connected with that establishment 
he was selected, and really did act, as_an assistant to the 
newly-established professor. 
Professor St. BeJ, it appears, had scarcely occupied his 
new situation a year, when, after being ill only about a fort* 
night, death terminated his existence, and in consequence 
thereof the prospects of the institution became greatly 
affected; but owing to the patronage of the then subscribers, 
it ultimately survived this event. 
Mr. Blaine says, “On the death of M. St. Bel, the public 
attention was of course engaged in considering on whom the 
vacant professorship would devolve; some eyes were directed 
to myself, many more to Mr. Clarke, of Edinburgh, who, 
however, refused it. But Mr. Morecroft, then in practice as 
a veterinary surgeon, appeared the most eligible person. 
Mr. Morecroft was originally a student of human medicine, 
but he had lately studied veterinary medicine in the French 
schools, and was considered to possess extensive information 
on the subject. Mr. Coleman, a medical pupil of the Borough 
hospitals, who had much distinguished himself by some phy¬ 
siological inquiries, and by some experiments on the diseases 
of the eyes of the horse, was brought forward likewise; 
although his designs had never, I believe, reached further 
than this, nor had his attention at that time ever been 
engaged beyond that point. The fitness of Mr. Morecroft 
was, however, so nicely balanced by the interest of Mr. 
Coleman, that it was determined to unite them in the pro¬ 
fessorship : from the practical knowledge of the one, and 
the investigations of the other, everything being to be hoped 
from the association; but Mr. Morecroft finding that he had 
quitted a profitable concern, soon seceded, and Mr. Coleman, 
who successfully applied himself to fill up by his own talents 
the loss of his colleague, was appointed sole professor.” 
It is further observed by others who have written on this 
subject, that Mr. Coleman, “on being left to the exercise of 
his own resources, appears to have fully justified the expec¬ 
tations which were entertained from his polite and conciliatory 
address and pleasing manners; for in a short time the con¬ 
fidence of the subscribers and the public (on account of the 
death of M. St. Bel) was again restored, and many noblemen 
and gentlemen who had withdrawn their names on seeing 
the former unpromising state of the institution, again re¬ 
joined it.” In consequence of the introduction of Mr. 
Coleman, a medical committee was likewise appointed, con- 
