896 
OBSERVATIONS ON ENTOZOA. 
ment of Science on the other. In conducting our dissections 
we were materially assisted by Professor Pritchard. 
Recent strides in physiology and pathology having at 
length rendered it evident that many diseases which hitherto 
had been ascribed to atmospheric and other obscure causes 
were in reality due to parasites, the growing importance of 
the subject became generally acknowledged, not only in the 
medical journals, but also in the columns of our leading 
newspapers. Outbreaks of parasitic disease, affecting both 
mankind and animals, stirred up the workers in either depart¬ 
ment of the healing art, and thus, in a comparatively short 
space of time, an immense amount of scientific labour was 
accomplished by physicians and veterinarians, both at home 
and abroad. For myself, permit me to say that, some twenty 
years since, whilst occupying the post of Curator of the 
Anatomical Museum in the Edinburgh University, I dili¬ 
gently commenced to work at the subject of Entozoa, and 
during the interval that has elapsed, I have sought through 
every available publishing avenue, to make my investigations 
useful to the public. Having said this much you will readily 
understand with what increased gratification I enter upon 
the task of opening out to your minds the truly astonishing 
facts and experiences which have come under my notice. 
On public grounds, as well as on professional, I ask you to 
give your best attention to the data it will be my pleasure to 
supply. Often, no doubt, in the practice of your calling you 
will find certain “ oldVives* fables” preferred to the teachings 
of sound knowledge based on results acquired by years of con¬ 
scientious labour; but whenever, in after life, these annoy¬ 
ances occur, strive to exercise, as far as you can, that degree 
of self-control which is, or ought to be, the most distinctive 
marks of an educated mind. Only resolve to act in this way 
and you will bring respect to yourselves and honour to the 
veterinary profession. 
With these preliminary observations I now proceed to 
offer you certain general considerations, which are necessary 
in order that you may realise the true character, scope, and 
tendency of tbe subject before us ; and here, at the outset, I 
may remark that the title of the course is, perhaps, the very 
best that could be selected. Observe ; if the Governors had 
appointed me to lecture on Helminthology or on Entozoology , 
the so-called practical and unscientific people would have 
been frightened at the mere sight of these technicalities in the 
College prospectus ; whilst, possibly, the less obscure title of 
Parasitology would have been also objected to. 
In point of fact these three scientific terms, respectively 
