168 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
that to make any onward progress, theory, or a knowledge of 
principles, the term being accepted in its true sense, must 
always be combined with practice, and should likewise 
direct or govern it. This it is which enables us to assign the 
“why and wherefore” when called upon. It lifts us out 
of the morass of visionary conjecture, and places us on the 
rock of certainty, so that we feel confident and secure as 
to the position in which w T e are standing, or the steps that 
we may have taken. 
Well do we remember our own apprenticeship. The 
routine of business, it is true, we were instructed in ; and we 
believe we were as attentive as most, and also desirous of ac- 
quiring knowledge. We might, likewise, have passed muster 
as being somewhat observant, if not critical and inquiring ; 
but of principles we were to its very close as ignorant as a 
Hottentot. These had never been inculcated, and conse- 
quently the mind had never been rightly trained. We went 
forth into the world ; there we had to do battle, and to 
acquire that by dint of mental labour, not unaccompanied 
with some degree of irksomeness from attendant incon- 
veniences, and want of opportunity and time for study, which 
early instruction would have rendered both easy and pleasant. 
There is much more that might be said on this subject, 
and hereafter we may perhaps resume its consideration. 
ARMY APPOINTMENTS. 
We have been, and still are, at some loss to account for the 
seeming indifference shown by the junior members of our 
profession to appointments in the army as veterinary surgeons. 
The time was when they were sought after with the greatest 
solicitude ; and this will occur again, we anticipate, but only, 
such is the contradiction of human nature, when they are 
not to be obtained. It is true that the remuneration in the 
shape of “ pay” is not large, but the position is a gentlemanly 
one, it is also permanent, and depending on the conduct of 
