DISEASES OP THE OX AND SHEEP. 549 



interesting and at the same time one of the most important topics 

 of all those innumerable ones which demand discussion through- 

 out the whole range of human inquiry. Those who can realise 

 at all adequately the truth that the highest aspect from which 

 life, both human and animal, can be regarded is to be gained by 

 the study of the functions of the brain and of the nervous system 

 as a whole, will readily grant that any knowledge acquired in 

 regard to its working is of the very highest significance. Those 

 investigators who wish to probe the inmost recesses of our com- 

 plex existence must have recourse to the brain, the spinal cord, 

 and the nerves both in health and in disease. It is true that a 

 great deal is known, yet no less true that what is already known 

 is simply nothing compared with that which still has to be 

 patiently toiled after and deeply digged for. 



Judging by the immense progress which has been made in the 

 last half-century, the men of to-day, starting from the vantage- 

 ground of the information at their disposal, may reasonably 

 expect to make very many, and very great and marvellous 

 discoveries. That human beings, with their limited intellectual 

 powers, will ever be able to learn the real rationale of our 

 existence upon this earth is probably impossible ; but that 

 we are capable of gaining an almost unlimited amount of know- 

 ledge, and therefore of power, over the various forces of nature 

 and our own bodily functions is most certain, and most reassur- 

 ing. Almost every day that passes brings some new facility 

 into the sphere of human activities, brings some unlooked-for 

 benefit, even though it be but a small one, to mankind. Often 

 the advantage has an ugly look at first. It may even appear to 

 be a curse rather than a blessing ; but yet it is but a part of that 

 grand and wondrous scheme which, though we cannot under- 

 stand, is nevertheless steering straight to the point, the far-off 

 goal in view. 



Who could, a hundred years ago, have formed the least idea 

 of the things which even children know and see and use to-day ? 

 Who can guess the startling possibilities of the future ? We 

 must not forget that we live in the age of progress, that we 

 who are living now have been fortunately born at a particularly 

 brilHant epoch, that we possess opportunities which our ancestors 

 scarcely dreamt of, that we have many things in our favour 

 helping us to advance farther and farther, both on old and 



