INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
631 
so much science, and, with confidence, will place in his 
hands the medical care of his stock, and will also be glad 
of his advice in many other ways. His professional know¬ 
ledge will often be sought respecting the means best calcu¬ 
lated to preserve the health of stock, which, we must admit, is 
or ought to be as much the province of the veterinary surgeon 
as it is to cure them when attacked by disease. Such a 
course will be no barrier to his progress, and, if carried out 
with a right spirit, will be duly appreciated. Again, he will 
be of great service to agriculturists and others, both in the 
purchase and also in selling of animals, by examining them 
as to soundness; often also will he be called upon to arbi¬ 
trate between buyer and seller in cases of dispute, and which, 
in many instances, he is more capable of doing than an un¬ 
scientific person would be. 
There are very many things interwoven with agricultural 
pursuits, which the veterinary surgeon, from the knowledge 
he possesses of the laws that influence health, both in animals 
and vegetables, can exercise with great benefit to the public, 
and which would also tend to raise his worth in their esti¬ 
mation. The physician or surgeon of the town or village in 
which he resides would be glad to introduce him to the notice 
of the wealthier classes in the neighbourhood, who would 
be likely to be influenced by such an introduction. And 
how is it with the poorer classes—those who keep, perhaps, 
only one or, at most, two animals, it may be only a pig, 
which is as likely to be taken ill as if belonging to the 
rich; will he refuse to attend to them ? Certainly not; 
the veterinary surgeon, that I am alluding to, will be ever 
as ready to give them the benefit of his professional skill 
as though they were the property of his more wealthy em¬ 
ployers. He may not expect much remuneration for so doing, 
but he will receive the heartfelt thanks of people who are not 
deficient in gratitude, and which is often a greater reward 
than money. 
Thus far I have endeavoured to point out to you some of 
the penalties and rewards likely to accrue to a veterinary 
surgeon. 
We have seen that a few, who get their diplomas I can 
hardly tell you how—for during their pupilage they seldom 
studied — commence practice, but, from inattention and 
want of knowledge of their profession, combined veiy 
often with intemperance, they manage to squander all the 
money at their command, and very frequently abuse also a 
friend’s kindness, which is often trespassed upon to an incon¬ 
venient extent. The public also lose confidence in such 
