INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
G66 
disease which time and experience will have to perfect. See, 
then, the necessity as well as the importance of cultivating a 
habit of analysing the symptoms, as they are called, of dis¬ 
ease. See, also, the attention that must be given to the clini¬ 
cal remarks of your teachers. See, again, that you must be 
punctual in your place in the lecture room, while the princi¬ 
ples of pathology are being expounded. 
I shall have something to say, hereafter, upon the extent of 
the means afforded by the rules of the College for the acquire¬ 
ment of what is usually called practical knowledge; but it 
behoves me first to point to those at your disposal, and the 
way they should be used. However, let me in this place 
avail myself of the opportunity of congratulating my revered 
colleague and friend, Professor Sewell, on his presence again 
among us. We who are associated with him, know how to 
appreciate the benefits we derive from consultations with him 
in all cases of difficulty and doubt, and you also will find 
him ever ready to give you the advantage of his long experi¬ 
ence as a teacher. His looks assure us that, with the divine 
blessing, he may yet be spared many years to win more laurels 
and gain more honours in that profession to which his long 
life has been devoted. As you know, for some time past he 
has ceased to take any active part in teaching; in fact, it may 
be said that from this duty he has retired,—and hard indeed 
would it be, nay, a disgrace, if one “ easy chair ” did not exist 
as the reward of long service and sterling merit. He sits here 
this day in the capacity of Senior Professor and Resident 
Governor of the College, Director of the School, and Presi¬ 
dent of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons; and I but 
speak the sentiments of ail present in saying that sincerely 
do we hope, sir, you will long be spared to enjoy the dis¬ 
tinctions you have so richly deserved. 
To return. It has not unfrequently been a source of regret 
to us all, but chiefly to my colleague, Mr. Spooner, who has 
the care of the equine patients in the infirmary, that so few 
pupils continue throughout the session to accompany him 
in his daily rounds. An unusual or novel case will bring 
around a crowd of curious inquirers, but how soon does the 
interest begin to subside after the patient is placed within his 
box. Few there are who care to watch the daily development 
or subsidence of the symptoms, and fewer still who reason 
upon the facts as presented. Some content themselves by 
simply asking what was done yesterday and what is ordered 
to-day ? and many more by hearing the “ head groom” say 
that the animal is better or worse, as it may be. And I fear, 
also, that there would be no difficulty in finding pupils who 
