107 
THE VETERINARIAN, FEBRUARY i, 1857. 
Ne quid falsi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat. 
Cicero. 
PROSPECTS OP THE PROFESSION. 
To “ turn over a new leaf 99 at the commencement of a 
new year is doubtless a vow far more frequently made than 
performed. The resolve, however, is most assuredly a plain 
proof that he who takes it feels that something in his gene- 
ral mode of life exists which requires amendment. He is 
either sensible of a dereliction of duty, or sees that advan- 
tages will spring from the adoption of some other course. 
He therefore often seizes upon the moment with avidity, 
and for a time enjoys the reward of his altered conduct ; 
but as the year steals on, both his good intentions and 
activity decline, and he relapses into his former method of 
procedure ; and thus, falling back upon his old habits, per- 
haps indulgences, reaps a :ain the bitter fruit of neglect. 
Various causes are to be assigned for the practical non- 
fulfilment of good resolves — some of these may operate from 
within, and others from without—some may have a personal, 
others a relative bearing — be they, however what they may, 
their effects are no less certain than injurious. How widely 
different is the case when pledges are redeemed, when good 
intentions give permanent place to good performances, and 
when each succeeding year only tends to consolidate more 
firmly and lastingly those things w 7 hich were well and right- 
fully begun. As with individuals, so with societies, and 
as with societies so more especially is it with those persons 
wdio are intrusted with the superintendence, and care of the 
affairs of our varied institutions. In the former case which 
we have pictured, but one individual, as a rule, suffers from 
the negligence, or at least to the same extent ; but in the 
latter many are injured, cast dowm, or it may be destroyed. 
