372 
ANNUAL DINNEll. 
sent. Whether he has ever been engaged in any severe 
engagement, of course I cannot take upon myself to say, but 
I have no doubt if he has ever been placed in such a position 
that he has been the last to surrender. With regard to the 
Duke of Cambridge, we know that he does all he possibly 
can in the position in which he is placed to promote veteri¬ 
nary science. He not only takes care that the different regi¬ 
ments shall, as far as possible, be provided with veterinary 
surgeons who will do credit to the profession to which they 
belong, but I may here also remark that he is connected with 
the Royal Veterinary College as President of that institution, 
so that we have quite enough to assure us that the Duke of 
Cambridge takes a deep interest in the veterinary profession. 
I will call upon my friend, Mr. Wilkinson, to acknowledge 
this toast. 
Mr. Wilkinson .—Having been called upon by the chairman 
to return thanks for the last toast, all I can say is that he has 
fallen far short in the expressions he has used, strong as they 
are, with reference to the feelings with which his Royal 
Highness is animated towards our profession. I have the 
happiness of a personal intimacy with his Royal Highness, 
and I scarcely ever meet him without his asking me how we 
are getting on; not referring to the army in particular, but 
to the profession to which he feels that he in some measure 
belongs as President of the Royal Veterinary College. With 
reference to the army, I think it is out of my province to say 
much about it, but I can say, and I am sure I shall be borne 
out by every one who has seen any branch of our service, 
that it was never in so efficient a state as it is at the present 
time. (Hear, hear.) I believe the British army', though not 
so numerous as the armies of other nations, is in a far more 
efficient state than any other I have seen; and I believe 
that this entirely arises from the zeal that animates every indi¬ 
vidual who is connected with a regiment, or a part of a regi¬ 
ment. The machinery works well, and everybody is anxious 
to do his duty, not only for his own sake, but for the 
benefit of the country. With regard to that branch of 
the army to which I may more particularly allude, the vete¬ 
rinary department, it has its duties to the Queen, and to 
the country, and to the profession. I believe eveiy one 
who has watched the career of the veterinary’ surgeons of the 
army of late years will acknowledge that we are not falling 
behind our professional brethren in civil life. It has been 
my duty, and will continue to be so, to do all in my power 
to raise the social position of the members of our profession. 
As long as I have anything in the form of power, it shall not 
