EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 57 
with one solitary exception. Nay more: does not this show 
that veterinary literature is held in no slight estimation, and 
also has its supporters? And does it not behove alike the 
profession and ourselves so to act as to continue to merit 
this esteem? We unhesitatingly answer these questions in 
the affirmative ; and we feel satisfied that there will be no 
withdrawal on the part of our friends, since to them it is we 
look for materials wherewith to work. 
In this country we are, perhaps, a little too prone to boast 
of our practical knowledge. We affect to be utilitarians. 
Our continental brethren, it must be conceded, are generally 
more scientific than we are, and it w’ould be well for us to 
remember that science must ever be the basis of all correct 
practice, otherwise it becomes mere empiricism. 
In the midst of so much generous and unsolicited support, 
it seems almost invidious to particularize. To all alike 
our thanks are due ; for although the contributions may 
not have been of equal worth, the spirit that actuated our 
friends in forwarding them is the same. We are still con- 
tented to be probationers on their bounty, and sincerely trust 
that that which has been so auspiciously begun will eventuate 
in its perpetuity. Our plans are now sufficiently before our 
professional brethren. We have no fresh pledges to offer; 
but we hope to be enabled steadily to pursue our course, and 
it is for them to assist us in making the Journal worthy both 
of the profession as a body and the age in which we live. 
We trust and we believe that in the performance of our 
editorial duties we have availed ourselves of every oppor- 
tunity of rendering the communications, forwarded to us for 
insertion, both more valuable and interesting to our readers, 
by the addition of similar facts or cases that have come to 
our own knowledge, or been recorded by our contemporaries. 
We consider by so doing we thus concentrate truths here- 
after to be referred to with advantage. We cannot for a 
moment think that any one is so jealous of the originality 
of his production, as to fear it will be tarnished by bringing 
forward what another has observed in common with himself, 
or that the repetition of the occurrence will detract from its 
value. A multiplicity of facts is sometimes necessary to 
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