670 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
that a certain amount of advantage arises out of this ex- 
pression of opinion in the way of friendly controversy ; but 
there yet remains the unsatisfactory reflection that much 
more good might be gained with very little addition to the 
existing machinery. 
Writing essays, and afterwards reading them in public, 
for the purpose of inducing a free discussion, is in more 
ways than one a good exercise, for the student ; it is 
indeed an essential part of his education, and it would 
probably, even on this account alone, be very difficult to 
overrate the value of the Veterinary Medical Association 
at the Royal Veterinary College ; but it does not follow 
that the system which has worked so well in a society 
of students should be slavishly copied by the members 
of an association of practitioners ; on the contrary, there 
is an urgent necessity for considerable modifications. 
The student, in the enthusiasm of a newly acquired 
knowledge, may harmlessly give his fancy play — he may, 
without compunction, enunciate what he terms an opinion, 
without even comprehending what the word implies. 
Should the propositions which go to make up his ora- 
torical feat be all (C baseless as the fabric of a vision,” “ it 
may yet be well with him.” Not so, however, with the man 
of practice and observation ; his words are not presumed to be 
“ but breath ;” on him is thrown the onus of being always 
exact, and when he advances a new proposition it is fairly 
expected to be the result of quiet and close discrimination, 
as well as of stern and uncompromising analysis. 
Every morbid specimen that is worth the notice of a 
society of scientific men is worth a critical examination. All 
that can be found out about it is worth saying or writing, 
and no one fact can be omitted without injury to the com- 
pleteness of the investigation. Opinions are commonly of 
little scientific value; but facts are too scarce, in our profession 
particularly, not to deserve the highest consideration. A 
moment's reflection will show how much easier it is to get 
opinions than facts ; how many members of the profession, for 
example, hold an opinion respecting the nature of the common 
disease “ pleuro-pneumonia ” of cattle, and how few have 
