EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 53? 
suggest those means by which their invasion may either be 
prevented, or if, in spite of our existence, they have broken in 
upon us, to seek how they may be most effectually combated 
and expelled.” In accordance with this coup d'ceil of the “ ob- 
jects” of the society it is that its members have been carrying 
on their operations. The field of research before them is an 
ample and a fertile one — one necessarily divided off into par- 
cels and portions, in the allotment of which, as will appear 
from the following extract out of the society’s “ address,” the 
veterinary public will find they have not been overlooked : — 
“ In order to throw some light upon the whole question of 
epidemic disease, and as an object in itself of important inquiry, 
it will be within the scope of the society to investigate the 
diseases prevailing extensively among domestic and other ani- 
mals, as well as those that affect the vegetable kingdom.” 
In furtherance of this, the one of their “ objects” which most 
nearly concerns us, it is with feelings of pleasure we now find 
ourselves in a situation to announce the recent formation, by 
the Council of the Society, of an epizootic committee. To this 
result we have for some time past been confidently looking 
forward, and with more than ordinary interest; resting assured, 
as we all along have done, that, as soon as practicable, the in- 
viting prospect presented to us in the above-quoted para- 
graph of the address would be brought closer under our view 
and submitted to deliberate examination. 
In the face of an Address we have all read and admired, 
wherein we find the highly talented and esteemed President of 
the Epidemiological Society to have stated, that the medical 
professions of all nations have yet much to learn regarding the 
causes, the means of prevention, and the treatment of several of 
the most formidable of the epidemics which, from age to age and 
season to season, have attacked the human race, and wherein 
we find ourselves invited to co-operation in the working out of 
so important and desirable an end, shall we of the veterinary 
profession stand by as silent and actionless spectators'! Shall we 
not rather buckle on our armour and rush into the contest, pre- 
pared to afford any and every auxiliary in our power in the 
furtherance of so noble a cause 1 Nay ! have we not epidemics, 
alias epizootics, among our own patients to care for] And is 
VOL. XXIV. 4 D 
