ATTENDANCE ON CLINICAL INSTRUCTIONS. 667 
never knew that such a case had been admitted within the 
Infirmary stables. Is this using the means at your disposal 
aright ? Is this the way to become practitioners of a class 
to satisfy the public ? Let your own convictions furnish the 
answers. 
Doubtless it is thought by many that the larger proportion 
of the cases are common ones—every day occurrences—and 
consequently little need exists for them to give that amount 
of attention we have described. Never was a greater mistake. 
Are your teachers always sure that the opinions of to-day 
of these common cases will prove correct to-morrow? How 
frequently is it that a ^-examination, even of a case of lame¬ 
ness, negatives the conclusion drawn from the prior exami¬ 
nation ? These things, when they occur, will be of the 
greatest possible use to the diligent and inquiring pupil; 
for depend upon it, an amount of value little suspected by 
many of you, belongs to every case, common though it be, 
that is brought under your notice within these walls. Earn¬ 
estly, then, would I even entreat you to give your strict 
attention to the hospital practice. 
That I may not be accused of giving utterance to my own 
sentiments alone on this important matter, I will read you 
an extract from Mr. Spooner’s introductory lecture, delivered 
three years since. “ The practice of your profession,” says 
he, “ is what may be termed the veterinary art; and of this 
you must lay the foundation by an unwearied observation 
of the practice of the college. Doubtless, many of you are 
already not unacquainted with practice; you will, however, 
within these walls, enjoy frequent opportunities of extending 
your knowledge in this department. You will be able to profit 
by the remarks and practice of your professors; and by tak¬ 
ing notes, and comparing them among yourselves, of the cases 
under treatment in the infirmary ; and by participating with 
your teachers in their feelings of responsibility as to the 
well-doing of the patients, you will also be very materially 
benefited. Let me entreat you diligently to cultivate that 
faculty of observation with which you are all endowed; and 
very important for this purpose you will find punctuality in 
your attendance at the College. A punctual pupil gives the 
first evidence of a determination to learn; a regular pupil 
loses no opportunity, but watches the cases from day to day, 
and leaves out nothing which experience can teach him, but 
carries away a bright copy of it in his head, useful for his 
future career in life. Therefore, gentlemen, I repeat, be 
punctual to the hour of College instructions, and also be 
regular from day to day.” 
