358 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



tion. " The object of language/' writes this well-known and 

 deservedly popular scientific author, "is to convey ideas, and I 

 have always held that words are valuable in proportion to their 

 power of conveying thought from one brain to another. A word, 

 therefore, which can be understood by ten thousand hearers 

 should always be used in preference to one which only three or 

 four individuals can be expected to comprehend. A lecturer 

 should always bear in mind that his true object is to teach his 

 hearers, and not to impress them with awe of bis vast attain- 

 ments. Nothing is easier than to employ the technical phrase- 

 ology of science. The real difficulty lies in conveying the same 

 information in language which every one can understand." 



It is very true that it is very easy to employ the tech- 

 nical phraseology of science, and at the same time it is very 

 difficult to interpret great scientific facts and generalisations in 

 language which can be understanded of the people. Few authors, 

 except those who, like Professors Huxley and Tyndall and the 

 Rev. J. G. Wood, try to speak and write about science in the . 

 ordinary language used by- the Englishman of good general 

 education can know how arduous a matter it is to effect this 

 object. 



The fact is that the coining of new words, often quite unneces- 

 sary ones, is proceeding so quickly, that, if things go on as at 

 present, science will soon have a special language of her own, 

 •which will serve effectually to mystify and perplex all but her 

 eager votaries. This would be a result greatly to be deplored, 

 and, we say it with all respect, will be in a large measure owing 

 to a certain pride on the part of not a few leading scientists, 

 no less than to the want of the literary habit, unfortunately 

 noticeable in the rank and file of the mightly legions of workers 

 now engaged in the clearing up of the many mysteries which 

 beset us on all sides. 



To-day we have to deal with the three disorders above-naiued 

 in so far as they afflict bovine animals, and in so far as is possible 

 in the limited space at our command. It may be said that they 

 are not of such primary importance as to need a very minute 

 description at our hands, and we add that, although we hope ta 

 be able to make this instalment of our subject an interesting no 

 less than a valuable one, we cannot but anticipate that it may 

 be found no easy task to do so. Hence we must crave the 



