EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
165 
overlooked; these being apparently unimportant in his view, yet 
in reality the opposite. Or, we may suppose a case to occur in 
which the malady presents phases that are somewhat uncom- 
mon, for the forms of disease are often protean ; and these it 
will be equally the province and the gratification of the pre- 
ceptor to assist the aspirant in the explanation of, by tracing 
the effects up to their causes. His long experience will gene- 
rally enable him thus to act ; although possibly he may, at 
times, be obliged to confess his inability satisfactorily to 
account for all that has taken place. This, however, will in no 
wise detract from the estimation in which he is held by his 
pupil, but rather it will tend to enhance it, for the latter 
knows that thought and experience have both been brought 
into exercise, and the deviation from the ordinary progress of 
disease must be very unusual. 
We do not, of course, advert here to the mere routine of 
practice. That, we take for granted, every employer will in- 
culcate ; self-interest, perhaps, will be sufficient to actuate 
him to do this. What we are contending for is, that oppor- 
tunities should be possessed by the student to acquire a 
knowledge of the science of his profession, either by the 
performance of experiments, or by such other means as are 
conducive thereto. 
By experiments, we do not mean experiments performed 
on living animals. This we cannot sufficiently condemn, 
and especially in the hands of the tyro . His ignorance would 
necessarily lead to the giving of pain, perhaps even the 
causing of torture ; while his powers of observation would 
not enable him to arrive at any definite or correct conclusion. 
Indeed we may be much inclined to question the real benefit 
that has been derived from the adoption of vivi-section, and 
we are quite sure that those who have indulged in it have 
frequently done so unnecessarily ; while we are altogether dis- 
believers in the improvements that some experimental physio- 
logists would make in the animal organism, by the removal 
of parts which, they are pleased to say, can be done as well 
without as with, and that simply because they cannot find 
out their uses. ? Tis “ a delusion and a snare,” to say the 
