OPENING OF SESSION AT ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE. 743 
examiner—a good temper, a thorough knowledge of the 
principles and practice of his profession, many years ex¬ 
perience as a teacher, an intimate acquaintance with what 
one may term the natural history of pupils; but he invari¬ 
ably exhibited that patience, gentlemanly demeanour, and 
kindness of manner which gives courage and comfort to the 
student, and materially facilitates the passing of an exami¬ 
nation. 
That which I have stated in regard to Dr. Taylor will 
also equally apply to another former examiner at the Royal 
College of Veterinary Surgeons, the late Dr. Sharpey. 
Dr. Sharpey's reputation as a physiologist and as a lecturer 
on physiology was literally world-wide. Every one who, 
like myself, had the privilege of his acquaintance, knows 
how varied, extensive, and sound was his knowledge, and 
how ready he was to communicate that knowledge to others, 
and to give encouragement and advice to young aspirants to 
scientific fame. 
Whether as teachers, examiners, men of literary and 
scientific attainments, cultured companions, or true friends, 
their loss is to be deeply lamented. In either capacity they 
can never be surpassed and but rarely equalled. 
Another event which I have to mention is the secession of 
Professor Pritchard. After nearly completing twenty years 
of official work, circumstances arose which rendered it 
necessary, in his opinion, to resign the professorship he had 
so long and so creditably held. His departure from us is a 
source of extreme regret. Let us hope that Mr. Pritchard, 
in the “fresh fields and pastures new” which he has chosen 
for his future career, will meet with that success and hap¬ 
piness of which his many good qualities render him de¬ 
serving. 
Consequent upon the resignation of Professor Pritchard, 
came the election of Mr. Robertson, of Kelso, to the Chair of 
Hippopathology. 
Professor Robertson comes to us with the reputation of 
being a practitioner of great experience ; we may, therefore, 
fairly anticipate that in the carrying on of the infirmary 
practice and the clinical instruction, his addition to the staff 
will prove to be a most desirable one. 
It is an old saying, that “ poets are born, not made.” 
Possibly the same is true of some teachers, but most men 
find that, in order to succeed in the teacher's art, they have 
to devote years to its study and practice. Possibly Mr. 
Robertson belongs to the former category ; if so, his tutorial 
path will be a straight and easy one. Should he* however, 
