INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
645 
may hear a cluster of pupils discussing some knotty point in 
physiology, or testing each other’s knowledge on some other 
scientific question. I have often heard complaints of the 
state of the atmosphere in the dissecting-room. I admit 
it is not very agreeable, but those that have complained 
have generally been idlers. Those that thirst after knowledge 
have their minds^so much engaged that they have no time 
to think about bad smells ; the air of the dissecting-room, to 
them, if not agreeable, is certainly not noticed. Many a time 
have I witnessed pupils busy in dissecting some half-decom¬ 
posed subject until late in the day, even after most of the 
others had left the College altogether, and on the following 
morning known them hasten again to the same subject, 
anxious to complete the tracing out of some blood-vessels or 
nerves, left half-finished the night before. In this way they 
work on, reaping a rich harvest, and striving to gather in all 
the knowledge they could before the session closed upon them. 
Such workers never fail in having their reward. Another 
word about the dissecting-room. When you enter it for the 
purpose of pursuing the object for which it was intended, let 
it be with feelings of the importance of scientific research. 
The information you will them obtain will enable you to 
master and understand other branches of your study, and 
when you commence the practice of your profession you 
will find it a very powerful ally in assisting you in diagnosing 
diseases, and in many ways giving you an advantage you 
could not otherwise possess. 
I hope the senior pupils will feel it a part of their duty to 
give every information to the junior ones; or, whether they 
be junior or senior, that those who are better up than others 
will take every opportunity in affording assistance by ex¬ 
plaining all they can to those who are not so proficient. Not 
only, do I hope, they will do this, but by good example and 
precept do all in their power to preserve order and gentle¬ 
manly conduct. In this way, as far as the dissecting- 
room is concerned, you will be co-operating with your 
teachers. 
Now let me impress upon your minds the importance of 
being present at all the post-mortem examinations you can ; 
for by so doing you will become familiar with the alterations 
in structure produced by disease, while you must also en¬ 
deavour to connect, as far as possible, the symptoms you 
observed during the life of the animal with those alterations. 
You will find considerable practice required, and also close 
observation, to become familiar with the morbid appearances 
