ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY AND THE VETERINARY COLLEGE. 287 
disease as that which has prevailed in Great Britain and on 
the Continent of Europe, and which is known as pulmonary 
murrain or pleuro-pneumonia. 
With regard to the curable or incurable character of the 
affection, we do not hesitate to express a strong opinion that 
only in the first stage, if at all, is it likely to admit of success¬ 
ful treatment, or of natural or spontaneous cure, as the ap¬ 
pearances observed leave no doubt that the morbid process is 
one of rapidly disorganizing inflammation. 
The examination which we have had the opportunity of 
making does not warrant our expressing any opinion on the 
question as to whether the disease is infectious or contagious, 
nor can we offer any suggestion as to its origin. These are 
subjects which have been more or less discussed in reports 
presented to the Imperial Parliament, some of which we have 
had before us; but we are of opinion that further observation 
is necessary for their satisfactory elucidation, as also for ac¬ 
quiring a knowledge of any modifications of the disease de¬ 
pendent on the climate of this country. Certainly, the great 
preponderance of evidence taken in the mother-country is in 
favour of the belief that the disease is contagious or infectious. 
In conclusion, we have seen nothing to lead us to believe 
that the affection is originated by any kind of parasitic 
organism. 
(Signed) John Macadam, M.D., Surgeon, 
Chairman. 
Thomas Shearman Ralph, 
M.R.C.S.E., &c. 
James T. Rudall, F.R.C.S.L. 
THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY AND THE VETERINARY 
COLLEGE. 
From the first mention of the proposal to found a Veteri¬ 
nary College for Ireland, there was no doubt entertained by 
any one of the necessity for the education which that insti¬ 
tution was intended to confer. There was, it is true, a ques¬ 
tion raised as to who should provide the means of imparting 
this education, and some contrariety of opinion, seemingly, 
as to what constituted the requisite means. There were some 
who thought that a course or two of lectures, annually, would 
supply the want, and that these lectures, with some acces¬ 
saries, could well enough be provided by the Royal Dublin 
Society. The subject was thus brought before this venerable 
body; and, ever solicitous with regard to anything aiming at 
