INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
755 
for you will find that the habit of writing down cases will 
give you an earnest interest about them, and an accurate 
comprehension of the symptoms and treatment. The memory 
is materially assisted and rapidly improved by such registra¬ 
tions of facts, and when a case is read over in its complete¬ 
ness, it is more easy to see the hearings of the symptoms 
from the beginning, and to consider the means that have 
been employed for the relief of the patient. There is so 
much necessarily to be done in this main department of vete¬ 
rinary medicine, so many improvements to be made by time, 
and study, and casual suggestion, that even as students you 
may hope, almost at once, not only to learn, but also to con¬ 
tribute to the general stock of practical knowledge in your 
profession. Practice, gentlemen, if we must confess it, 
though success in it is our main aim and our greatest 
triumph, is very peculiarly situated in its relations to science 
and empiricism—nay, sometimes the best practice is the most 
empirical; but then that is precisely a reason, if we are 
forced to be empirical in this, why we should be scientific in 
other particulars. Let me explain myself to avoid misappre¬ 
hension. A case comes before us betokening internal 
disease, and a certain medicinal treatment is suggested on 
the mere ground of previous experience, and not from any 
mathematical certainty or reasoning upon the absolute prin¬ 
ciples of science as to the modus operandi of such medicine, 
for the fact is that drugs are frequently used by us simply 
because they have been found to answer the end in view, and 
for no other reason. Now this is empiricism; but then 
science stands round it to make it safe—that is to say, 
to prevent us from doing too much, and to teach us that 
if v r e cannot cure we should not kill. Science also tells us 
that we must make our empiricism large enough to cover 
the whole field of art, and if we are obliged to borrow 
remedies from the instincts of animals sometimes, and from 
savage tribes which have traditions of the virtues of drugs, 
and from quacks and nostrum vendors, let us sweeten this 
bitter pill, and complete the circle by adopting all the means 
that are good and useful, and attested as pointing to cures; 
for the bad name—the evil and dishonesty of empiricism— 
ought rather to attach to the men who take up some narrow 
and insufficient mode of practice, and obstinately refuse to 
look at everything else, than to those who make it their sole 
principle to be guided by the success of the treatment of their 
professional brethren generally. To the latter class, which 
embraces all the widest observers and the most profound 
thinkers, I would have you belong during your walks in the 
