EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
675 
due constituted one of the most dignified and worthy pursuits to which they 
could devote themselves; that they were to be throughout their lives students 
of God’s works and benefactors of His noblest creatures. (Loud cheers.) 
We will not venture to add to the force of the foregoing 
remarks by any observations of our own, but proceed to 
speak of that which is more immediately identified with the 
science of Veterinary Medicine. 
In our last we announced that the opening of the 
scholastic session of the Royal Veterinary College would 
take place on October 7th, and we have now to speak of it 
as a fait accompli. It was exceedingly gratifying to witness 
so numerous an attendance, and to recognise among the 
audience the familiar faces of many of the elite of the pro¬ 
fession, both from town and country. Among those present 
were the President of the Royal College of Veterinary Sur¬ 
geons, the Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, the late 
Secretary, many members of the Council, the Veterinary 
Surgeon-General of the Army, several army veterinary sur¬ 
geons, and also many distinguished practitioners. More 
especially was this numerous gathering gratifying, as, for 
the first time, the delivery of the introductory address was 
undertaken by Assistant-Professor Varnell; for, apart from 
the support thus afforded by the profession to the teachers 
as a body, we can understand something of the pleasure 
which Mr. Varnell felt in finding that many had travelled 
long distances purposely to do him honour by their presence. 
The address was listened to throughout with marked 
attention, its delivery being only interrupted now and then 
by the applause of the audience. Through the kindness of 
Mr. Varnell we are enabled to give it in eoctenso in our 
present number, and thus our readers will be afforded the 
opportunity of judging of its merits for themselves, and of 
analysing the statements put forth by its author. As was 
to have been expected, coming from a new source, it contains 
much which is novel, a fact which of itself is sufficient to 
exemplify the propriety of not restricting the preparation of 
the annual introductory address to one or two of the teachers, 
as their thoughts will almost of necessity run in the same 
channel. Throughout it breathes a spirit of goodwill and 
