EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
179 
young member of the profession, but he has given an earnest 
of what may be expected from him, if so be he slacken 
not nor falter in his course. We hail him as a worker 
together with us — another added to the list of veterinary 
authors. We are not ignorant of the labours of the pen, 
nor of the little profit attached thereto when they are con- 
nected with Science ; nevertheless, they bring their reward, 
and it is one far higher than mere pecuniary gain. May 
many more be stimulated by the example thus show T n. We 
are convinced that there is talent enough among us, but it 
requires to be drawn forth. We hold that the literature 
of a profession affords a true criterion whereby to judge of 
its state, whether it be healthy or otherwise. It must be 
confessed that there is a paucity of standard works with us. 
We have not, in this respect, imitated our professional 
brethren on the Continent, and if we were permitted to 
speak our minds boldly, we should not hesitate to say 
that the heads of our profession in England have failed 
here to do their duty : they have forgotten Lord Nelson’s 
pass-word. 
We sincerely rejoice in the appearance of these brochures , 
and earnestly hope they will be multiplied a hundred-fold. 
They are the rivulets which irrigate the soil, and by-and-by 
they will be united so as to form a mighty river, which, 
in its passage onwards, will communicate life and fertility, 
and from which rich supplies may be withdrawn to meet 
emergencies. Or they are the multiplied zoophytes, which 
by their united labours will have formed a field for still 
further inquiry and investigation. 
We would, also, that every encouragement should be 
given to the rising members of our profession. “ The boy is 
oft father to the man / 5 We must soon “ shuffle off our mortal 
coil,” and others will have to take our places. May they fill 
them far more profitably, both to themselves and others, than 
we have done. May they likewise be animated by a more 
ardent zeal ; for should this be wanting on their parts, then 
must our profession retrogress, and for us, as a body, it will 
be a sad day, indeed, ee a day of darkness and of gloom ; a 
day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread 
