INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
676 
October, what were the most likely means to encourage the 
study of scientific farriery.” (I am quoting in full from 
a published history of the Veterinary College, dated 1793.) 
Nothing of importance, however, appears to have been done 
by the society, until May, 1788, when they resolved to adver¬ 
tise their intention of educating two or more young men in the 
school of farriery in the neighbourhood of Paris; and to solicit 
subscriptions for that purpose, which was not done till after 
a similar resolution in March or June, 1789* In August, 
1789, they resolved that 500 copies of their resolutions should 
be printed, with an address, in which they say, “ It is to be 
lamented that there is not yet in England any establishment 
adequate to the desired improvement in farriery, by a regular 
education in that science on medical and anatomical principles 
And they again express their intention of sending two or 
more youths to France for instruction. 
Early in this same year M. Saint Bel came to England, and 
published proposals for reading lectures on the general know¬ 
ledge of the horse; and in the following year, 1790, he pre¬ 
sented to the public a plan entitled, “ A plan for establishing 
an institution to cultivate and teach veterinary medicine.” At 
the end of May, or beginning of June, in the same year, 
several of these plans were transmitted to the Odiham, and 
other societies; and in August following, the Odiham Society 
resolved, that a committee should be appointed to meet in 
London for the purpose, among other business, of collecting 
whatever might appear to be conducive to the views of the 
society for promoting the improvement of farriery, and they 
elected M. Saint Bel an honorary and corresponding mem¬ 
ber, and one of the committee in London. 
On the 11th of February, 179L at a meeting of the com¬ 
mittee, the following important resolution was passed, which 
immediately led to the establishment of the college :—“ Re¬ 
solved: that this meeting is seriously convinced of the benefits 
which must result from an institution to cultivate and teach 
veterinary medicine ; and they have observed the effect pro¬ 
duced upon the public by the proposed measure of the 
society for the improvement of farriery, as also the plan 
offered by M. Saint Bel. That the ultimate view of the 
society tends to the same object as the plan proposed to be 
immediately carried into effect by M. Saint Bel; and that it 
is the opinion of the meeting, that it is greatly to be desired 
the plan of the Odiham Society and that of M. Saint Bel 
should be consolidated.” Other resolutions having the same 
view were passed; and a week afterwards, namely, on the 18th 
of February, it was resolved, “That from this day forward 
this meeting shall be called the Veterinary College of London.” 
