200 
LAXITY OF THE VETERINARY PROFESSION. 
make the examinations more stringent, and, above all, cultivate 
a spirit of unity, and our profession will soon regain its lost 
ground, and, in the long run, be not far behind our elder sister 
the medical. 
Trusting these few remarks may suggest a subject for your 
next leader, rather more encouraging than your former one, 
I remain, 
Yours most truly. 
W. Percivall, Esq. 
*** The letter of our anonymous correspondent, albeit he 
himself in his present character is irrecognisable by us, is too 
argumentative on the subject on which it treats to be with- 
held. — Ed. Yet. 
LAXITY OF CONTRIBUTORS. 
By Non Yet. 
To the Editor of “ The Veterinarian .” 
Sir, — ALTHOUGH not a member of the veterinary profession, 
I have been for many years in the habit of reading the journal 
which represents that body, and from the perusal of which I 
have derived both pleasure and information. Latterly, how- 
ever, I regret to say that I have looked in vain for communica- 
tions from some of its early contributors — men who not only 
possessed great knowledge, but who had also the happy art of 
communicating it to others — a course eminently calculated to 
ensure respect to themselves and to advance the interests of the 
profession of which they are most worthy representatives. 
Where are now such writers as Baker, of Reigate — Brown, 
Melton Mowbray — Cupiss, Diss — Daws, London — Dick, Edin- 
burgh — Dickens, Kimbolton — Friend, Walsall — Karkeek, Truro 
— King, Stanmore — Spooner, Southampton — Turner, London — 
&c. &c. 1 Surely, they cannot be justly charged with neglecting 
to aid the advance of veterinary science, because, perhaps, the 
current of veterinary politics has not trickled smoothly down 
in the course they would have marked out for it 1 They must 
well know that, as the collision of flint and steel brings forth the 
vivifying spark, so in the collision of opinions error is detected, 
truth elicited, and good greatly promoted; and they will, doubt- 
less, readily admit that the young practitioner can in no way do 
more justice to himself or greater honor to his senior than in 
seeking encouragement and instruction from veterans in the 
profession, who can bring a large amount of knowledge and 
experience to the consideration of any subject that may be 
brought before them. In vol. ii, p. 207, Mr. Spooner, of 
