TESTIMONIAL TO ASSIST.-PROFESSOR VARNELL. 243 
valuable information to be derived from the instructions 
given by Professor Simonds ; for I think I may assert with¬ 
out the least fear of contradiction, that his investigations 
into matters of such vital importance as the physiology and 
diseases incidental to domesticated animals, other than the 
horse, have been carried to an extent far exceeding any that 
have gone before him. The important facts which have 
resulted, and must continue to result, from his unwearied 
assiduity, not only place him in the first position as a Cattle 
pathologist, but deservedly entitle him to the utmost consi¬ 
deration of every civilised community, and the especial 
gratitude of ourselves. Then, with reference to that indis¬ 
pensable branch of our studies, chemistry and materia 
medica, no one can presume to doubt the efficiency of Pro¬ 
fessor Morton, since his reputation does not merely rest upon 
the arduous devotion of a lifetime to instilling a knowledge 
of the nature and properties of the materials which enter 
into the composition or structure of the earth, the sea, the 
air, and “ all that in them is,” into the minds of youths 
laudably aspiring to be members of a noble profession ; but 
he claims additional fame by his discoveries, which have 
augmented the value of this science, and his contributions to 
our literature. And with regard to his method of teaching, 
the choice selections of soul-stirring passages from the 
immortal works of Britain’s noblest bards, and appropriate 
quotations from the recorded labours of those mighty intel¬ 
lects, many of whom have passed away, but who for ages yet 
to come must be regarded as beacon lights of science, which 
are interspersed throughout his lectures, not only display the 
refined taste he has for the sublime conceptions of our loftiest 
poets, and evince his enthusiastic admiration for the re¬ 
fulgent grandeur which invests the magnificent and masterly 
productions of those mighty geniuses of which England is 
justly proud, but also smooths the rugged path of learning, 
and renders the otherwise somewhat tedious and difficult 
subject of chemistry at once agreeable and instructive. 
There yet remains one who in our acknowledgments must 
not be passed over, one to whom our hearty thanks are due, 
nor should we be slow in confessing our obligations for the 
indefatigable services of Mr. Corby in his capacity of demon¬ 
strator of anatomy ; more particularly I would allude to the 
assistance he affords us in the dissecting room. 
I have no doubt that this slight digression from the pro¬ 
minent purport of my address will not upon reflection be 
considered by you as ill-timed, seeing that this meeting 
acquires additional eclat by the presence of Professor Varnell’s 
