into the urine in any quantity, unless combined with a base; and this, in the majority of instances, is soda.

The proportion of this acid to the uric, in the urine of the human subject, has been supposed, by Liebig, to be equal. Others have doubted this, finding only one-third hippuric acid; but as this acid is formed from the nitrogenized constituents of the food, it is very likely to vary in quantity.

From the large quantity of carbon existing in hippuric acid, it has been thought that, besides its being the medium by which nitrogen is eliminated from the system, it also aids in the excretion of carbon, and thus compensates for the liver when its functions are impaired. The composition of dry hippuric acid, and the analysis, by Dr. Kemp, of the organic constituent of

human bile, when placed in juxta-position, may render this

May not this throw some light on the disease designated redwater, or black-water, in cattle? In its first stages it is manifestedly connected with derangement of the digestive organs; and the liver soon becomes involved, proved by the fact that we have diarrhoea present. The urine now becomes dark-coloured, possessing a porter-like appearance; and then it is that the kidneys become functionally deranged, from their having to separate more than their natural quantity of carbon from the blood—this arising from the liver being no longer able to play its part; and at length they are organically diseased, and the impure blood, in an almost unchanged form, is allowed to pass through them.

When urine has become excreted, it quickly undergoes change, and the salts of ammonia are formed. This accounts for the ammonia met with in ill-ventilated stables; and its production is assigned to the urea, which, combining with the elements of water, forms the carbonate of ammonia disengaged.

This change is the result of decomposition by contact or catalysis. With the urea is excreted an albuminous or mucous substance, which, the moment it comes into contact with the air, undergoes a change, and becomes a ferment.

The following arrangement will render this more clear :

It is true this compound of ammonia is not an energetic poison, but it may serve to render other deleterious compounds more volatile, while, at any rate, its presence in the atmosphere, to any amount, cannot be salutary. It has been assigned as the cause of ophthalmia by some persons, and others have gone so far as to attribute glanders to its existence.

Mr. Morton then went on to shew how the origin of certain diseases may be traced to chemical changes which take place; adducing more especially those involving the digestive apparatus, the urinary organs, &c., and how necessary a knowledge of chemistry is to combat them. Also how indispensable its principles are in the combination of therapeutic substances; in the counteracting of the effects of poisons, or the employment of antidotes, and also for the detection of the particular agent that has been the cause of death. Further, that they are essential to the veterinary surgeon in the purchase of the drugs and chemicals he employs, so as to prevent imposition and disappointment.

The lecture was closed by an attempt to remove an erroneous impression, that, to acquire a knowledge of the principles of chemistry, elaborate and expensive apparatus is necessary; and an earnest appeal was made to the student to acquire habits of industry, and a love of persevering research, the spring-time of life being the period when these are both most profitably and most easily acquired. For if the spring put forth no blossom, in summer there will be no beauty, and in autumn no fruit: so, if youth be trifled away without improvement, manhood will be contemptible, and old age miserable."

66

The bust of Professor Spooner, in marble, was now brought into the theatre. Its execution reflects great credit on the artist, and the likeness is an admirable one. The pedestal bore the fol

The presentation of it devolved on Mr. Robb, one of the senior students, who nobly performed his task. There was a warmth and a sincerity in his address which impressed every one present, and caused it to be received with repeated acclamations.

After some congratulatory and introductory observations referring to the numerous auditory with which he was surrounded, Mr. Robb proceeded nearly as follows:

Gentlemen, The honour of representing the body of students on this occasion has been conferred on me, and I assure you it is a duty which is highly gratifying and agreeable to me. Nevertheless, I could have wished that it had been reserved for those who gave the first impulse to the desire of tendering to Professor Spooner our most grateful acknowledgments for the important assistance we have received from him. I state but the truth when I assert, that every student exhibited a disposition to carry out the intention of the suggesters as soon as communicated, and it was transmitted from one to another like the electric fluid traversing the elements of matter. It was proposed and responded to almost in the same moment of time by all-by those of you who are so happy as to be Englishmen-by those who love their own blue mountains of Scotland-and by the sons of green Erin.

It is most fortunate for me that you are all well acquainted with Professor Spooner's high qualifications, with our deep obligations to him, and more especially with the indefatigable yet unwearied exertions made by him for our benefit during the last session. It

may be said, that the proficiency of the student redounds greatly to the honour of the teacher: granted. But this kind of reasoning may be adopted with regard to every good and benevolent action. He is truly a fortunate man, and an excellent member of society, whose own interests are so intimately connected with the good of others. Without fear of contradiction I state, that Professor Spooner, as a teacher, is much and deeply interested in the onward progress of his students, both in and out of the lecture-room. Nor must I pass by in silence, nor suffer malignant forgetfulness to lose sight of the readiness with which he at all times communicates information. Who among us has ever in vain applied to him? Do we not all know that the most simple, the most trifling question connected with our studies here, is sufficient at any time to arrest his attention, and to cause him to stand still amid groups of listening students, and to traverse, over and over again, the same ground he has so often gone over before? His high professional attainments, and the facility he has of communicating to others the knowledge he himself possesses, are well known to us, and to the great body of the profession. Even descriptive anatomy - that dry subject—is rendered fascinating by his manner of treating it; and by a clear and spontaneous flow of language, and by numerous allusions to physiology and pathology, he adds beauty and interest to the edifice, while he strictly preserves its stability by the clearness and precision of his demonstrations.

These, Gentlemen, are some of Professor Spooner's accomplishments, which are of inestimable value to us and to this school. Nor are they less so, when we consider, that many come here for instruction who have but very crude and imperfect ideas of that assemblage or bundle of qualities which constitute what we call a horse, and who, notwithstanding all their anxious desires, may find some difficulty in applying the principles of medicine to the treatment of an animal with whom they are so indifferently acquainted. And they are no mean accomplishments, when we remember, that many resort to this profession whose minds have not been trained and inured to habits of hard study and of deep reflection, and who sometimes venture not beyond these walls for that information which is absolutely necessary to the successful practice of their profession. I wish, Gentlemen, I could recount to you his private virtues, for I know they are many.

Nor let it be considered as any detraction from what I have said of him, that much that I have stated is applicable likewise to his honourable and talented colleagues who now surround him.

The winter campaign has been opened, and our teachers are about to resume their arduous duties. Let us do our duty to them. Let them not contemplate, as often does the industrious and disappointed husbandman, his labours wasted on a barren soil; nor let the good seed now about to be sown be choaked by a profusion of noxious weeds. Our talented professor of chemistry has this day ably and eloquently delivered the introductory lecture. He has shewn us the ground-he has exhibited to us a bird's-eye view of the battle-field, and of the position and strength of the enemy with which we have to contend; and, like some ancient warrior in front of his army, knowing full well the important time when to harangue his soldiers, he urges us on to deeds of noble daring for the promotion of science. Nor has he been unmindful of that essential branch of natural philosophy which it is his peculiar province to teach, and which, doubtless, he would do with even greater advantage to us, and certainly more satisfaction and ease to himself, but for the want of certain arrangements and conveniences with which he will, probably, be furnished at no very remote period; when chemistry shall be more highly appreciated, and the light it is shedding on physiology and pathology more generally acknowledged.

And now, Sir-Professor Spooner-having been delegated by my fellow-students to present to you this marble bust, in their name I most respectfully beg your acceptance of it-to be kept by you and your successors for ever, as a memorial that one, at least, of your family, in times gone by, stood high and pre-eminently distinguished in that position in life which he had been destined to fill, and was esteemed and admired for his high talents and attainments by those who had been placed in a most intimate and important connexion with him. This bust, Sir, is not made of any very precious material; it is, in fact, constituted of very common ingredients. We regret that it is not of greater intrinsic value; but, Sir, you will remember, that the blessings of the Gods were not so effectually secured by costly as by pure oblations ;that the crown of rosemary and of myrtle, with consecrated cake and crackling salt, are not less acceptable than a great slaughter