Page:Convocation Addresses of the Universities of Bombay and Madras.djvu/427

 of brave British soldiers was offered up ; simply and solely, I verily believe, because after Alma the Commander-in-Chief, hampered by wounded and uncared-for soldiers, was unable to advance and snatch the prize their bravery had won for our Queen and country. It was afterwards discovered that what was wanted, and which was subsequently supplied twentyfold by a generous and indignant country, had been asked for by the head of the Medical Department, a Peninsular Veteran, who knew well the needs of an Army on Service, but his requests had been treated with scorn and neglect. Only the other day, a prize Encrland has long set her heart on, and was within an ace of seizing, escaped her sailors from this contemptuous treat- ment of professional advice. I allud^ to the expedition to the North Pole, which miscarried from scurvy amongst the men, because lime juice in direct contravention of medical advice was omitted from their rations. But let me turn from this ungrateful feature of my subject. Just as in the fairy tales, the resplendent Prince appears at last with the glass slipper and elevates poor Cindrella to her proper sphere, so some far-seeing and benevolent statesman, some Lord Herbert of Lea, will come and place medicine in her proper place, so that not only its sons shall be honored, (which is after all a secondary consideration,) but the voices of its " ancients " listened to when they speak of what they know, and the subjects of our Gracious Empress saved from unnecessary suffering and pestilence.

There is now left to me last, but not least, the most grateful Peaceful war- portion of my task. I have to congratulate you who have to-day been capped upon becoming members of this University, and I do so on behalf of our noble Chancellor and the Senate most cordially. May your lives be happy, your careers useful to yourselves and to your country, and creditable to the University of which you have this day become members. You stand here, to my mind, like soldiers who have been dismissed their training. Arms are in their hands, and they are looked forward to henceforth as the defenders and warriors of their country. The arms placed in your hands are the keen weapons of science ; like faithful soldiers keep them ever ready and bright by use. Be the peaceful warriors of Southern India, and though the combats you may go forth to wage are bloodless, and there is " no glorious pomp and circumstances of battle,"*^ yet are the victories, if possible, more splendid, the result to your country more important. If any among you take up the paths I have indicated^ medicine or