32 
THE CHARTER. 
eighteenth anniversary; in which hope and sentiment, should our 
good readers concur with us, we will, despite the old scythe- 
carrier, throw care — not physic — to the dogs, and with venerable 
Joe Miller, believe that 
“ Care to our coffin adds a nail, no doubt ; 
While ev’ry laugh so merry draws one out ! ” 
thereby hoping to cheat the old boy of a year or two ; a pious 
fraud, certainly, after considering the number of which he has 
already beguiled us. And if any one season more than another 
will enable us to do this, surely it will be Christmas time and 
New Year time, when 
“ The heart dilates with fervent joys, 
And the eager soul prompts to pursue the sparkling glass ! M 
And so we conclude in the words of the minstrel of the wakes, 
“ A merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you all, good Gentlemen !” 
The past year has shone bright with events such as have not 
from the very first footing of veterinary science in this country 
beamed upon its Professors. Already in possession of a standing 
in society, and a military rank unknown in any other country in 
the world, the British veterinarian has now to boast of the privi- 
lege and protection of a Royal Charter of Incorporation, 
constituting him a member of a body recognized by the State, and 
conferring upon him exclusive rights and immunities, and powers 
of self-professional government. All this has been achieved 
through the exertions of a body of individuals to whom the pro- 
fession must for ever feel themselves under deep obligations, 
during the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-four; a 
year that will to the end of time stand emblazoned in figures of 
gold upon the annals of veterinary medicine. 
And of this grand work it has been and ever will be the pride 
of The VETERINARIAN that its humble pages have been made 
the vehicle of diffusion, as well of the steps by which it was 
attained as of the beneficial operation it must and will have 
on the practitioners of veterinary medicine. We regret to have 
to remark here, that we have heard this doubted — have heard it 
