90 
OBITUARY. 
summer of 1839, when, by the unexpected retirement of the late Mr. 
Vines from the demonstratorship of the College, he accepted the 
vacant office at the solicitation of the late Professor Coleman, and 
by the advice of his best friends, who had long desired to see him 
inside the institution. The death of Professor Coleman in the fol¬ 
lowing month, and the consequent elevation of Professor Sewell, led to 
his appointment as assistant-professor—the post of demonstrator 
being filled up by the appointment of the late Mr. William Barth, 
E.I.C. In 1842 another elevation awaited him, and he became 
Deputy Professor on the appointment of a Lecturer on cattle 
pathology, and Assistant Professor to the College. This office he 
held up to 1853, when by the death of Professor Sewell, he 
became Principal of the College. It will thus be seen that for a 
period of eighteen years he stood at the head of the profession. 
During this time important changes have taken place, with all of 
which Professor Spooner has been necessarily more or less associated. 
Not the least of these was the obtainment of the Charter of Incorpora¬ 
tion in 1844, when among other things the power of passing members 
into the profession by a board of medical examiners, assisted by 
the two highest office-bearers of the College, ceased, and the 
appointment of a new' board was vested in the Council of the 
corporate body. After this Professor Spooner became an examiner 
ex-officio , and was in addition elected a member of the Council. 
His original election was periodically confirmed at the annual 
meetings of the profession, so that he continued in office to the end 
of his days. In 1858 he was also chosen President of the College, 
an office which he filled with his usual tact and ability. 
As a lecturer he occupied the highest place. In the profession 
it cannot be said that one better could be found, and out of it 
but few who could more readily or fluently express themselves. 
The present generation of veterinary surgeons has in a great 
measure been reared under his auspices, and is ready to bear witness 
to his talents and his powers. It is much to be regretted that he 
did not employ these more extensively in the use of his pen ; for then 
it might have been said of him, “that being dead he yet speaketh,” 
and the experience he had gained and his tutorial instruction would 
not have been lost to posterity, but the profession would have looked 
back from a far-distant date with pleasure and advantage to the 
career of Professor Charles Spooner. 
ERRATUM. 
At page 879, vol. xliv, in note, instead of “ Apulius,” read “ Apuleius.” 
