602 
W. H. DALRYMPLE. 
seems to me, tend to aid, very materially, the noble work for 
which our humane societies were organized, and ultimately to 
decrease the necessity for their existence. There is another 
school, in which a more intimate knowledge of comparative 
anatomy, physiology and ^pathology, might help along, very 
considerably, the humanitarian work. I refer to our medical 
colleges. It is unfortunate,—and I speak it with all due re¬ 
spect—that no little ignorance prevails,- at the present day, 
among members of the medical- profession regarding the close¬ 
ness of the analogy there exists between the two branches of 
medical science. The result is, that but limited assistance to 
the cause can be expected from that source ; not of course from 
lack of desire, but from want of confidence; due to insufficient 
knowledge of such analogy. If our medical institutions would 
enlarge their field of teaching in the broad subject of medicine 
so as to include comparative studies, of even an elementary 
character, our practising physicians, armed with a more or less 
intimate acquaintance with the subject, would then be able to 
exert a wholesome influence on the public in this regard, and 
give more emphasis and weight to the value of the humanita¬ 
rian work of our associations. ’ ' 
With regard to the influence the veterinary profession has 
or ought to have, in this direction, it might be-stated that all 
graduates of the modern schools are, in virtue of the profession 
they represent, ^honorary members of humane societies ; if not 
actually enrolled as such, are tacitly understood to exert their 
influence in the cause of humanity in its application to the 
lower animals. I claim, then, that the profession of modern 
veterinary medicine and surgery has the power to be, and in fact 
is, one of the most potent factors in the education of the people 
along the lines we have just been considering; and it may be 
of interest for us to consider for a few moments the ground upon 
which such a claim is based. Before proceeding with this part 
of my subject, however, I would like to emphasize the fact that 
there are many forms of cruelty perpetrated on the lower ani¬ 
mals, inadvertently it may be, and without any cruel intent, 
