770 
INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
parasites. It is too much the habit of mere onlookers to 
throw cold water on the sincere efforts of honest-minded 
persons; and in effect, if not exactly in the same words, 
some of these outsiders have said, <f What is the use of all 
this fuss about a set of miserable parasites V’ Gentlemen, 
there are parasites and parasites; and I freely admit that in 
dealing effectually with some of the higher types one often 
encounters serious difficulties. However, in answer to the 
cry above mentioned, I will quote a few lines from one of 
the junior veterinary practitioners, and this must, if you 
please, do duty for the many other similar assurances which 
I have received at the hands of old pupils. Of course it 
would be a breach of confidence to mention this gentleman’s 
name, and I must ask you to make some allowance for that 
measure of self-assertiveness which is perfectly natural and 
allowable in a private communication. Speaking of para¬ 
sitism in relation to veterinary work, he says : “ I can tes¬ 
tify that, during the five years I have been in practice, the 
knowledge I gained at the college has been of great prac¬ 
tical service to me, and on many occasions has proved to my 
clients my superiority over much older practitioners, whose 
indifference on the subject has led them to neglect the 
same.” 
Let us now turn to certain other matters. Here I must 
needs be brief, for our time is limited. It has been said, 
over and over again, and in my hearing, that the veterinary 
student has no enthusiasm, no ambition, and no desire to 
excel in the higher branches of his profession. He comes 
here so saturated, as it were, with the purely business or 
commercial aspects of his calling that it is not possible for 
him, in the fact and face of such antecedents, to emulate the 
intellectual performances of the sister profession. There is 
some truth in the statement; but when we see, as, I think, 
governors, professors, and practitioners now actually do see, 
marked signs of activity, the inference is that that degree of 
progress is being made which is most consistent with sta¬ 
bility. It should be borne in mind also that, considering 
the known disadvantages to which we have referred, the 
greater is the credit that redounds to those who are indus¬ 
trious and successful. I have been told by Sir Frederick 
Fitzwygram that the examiners generally have reported fair 
progress of late, and from one of their number I have received 
written assurances to the same effect. But some think that 
there is another and better way of estimating the value of 
this College as a teaching institution. They will tell you 
that you must compare our doings, and especially our general 
