EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
613 
to expect other and better things, since they are not unac- 
quainted with principles, fall into a similar mode of practice. 
It is true, when an emergency occurs, they can, and do avoid 
the consequences that would result from pursuing one accus- 
tomed course ; but where we especially think evil arises, is in 
the inculcation of the same general system to those whom 
they are the instructors of. 
u Example always goes before precept and we would that 
preceptors on whom this responsibility rests should show how 
valuable a knowledge of principles to direct always is. That the 
educated veterinary surgeon can no more do without them than 
the mariner can traverse the ocean without chart or compass; 
an acquaintance with them being the means by which both are 
alike enabled to avoid the rocks and the quicksands that other- 
wise w r ould cause them to become a wreck; their reputation 
and that with which they have been intrusted being then, 
and perhaps for ever, lost. 
We have been led to make these remarks from observing 
how sadly deficient we find an application of principles to 
obtain amongst us, and how much we wish it were otherwise. 
We plume ourselves on being a scientific body, and we 
believe that we do possess some little ground for the proud 
distinction. We are certainly not what the older farrier 
was, and we have discarded, for aye and for ever, many of his 
absurdities ; yet does there remain much for us to do. Let 
us then be continuous in well-doing. 
We have before said we are no destructives, nor have we 
any desire to undo what has been so earnestly begun ; but 
we are solicitous that what is done for the future shall be 
better done. An old writer has quaintly said, “ If a one- 
sided tendency becomes too strongly prominent, it is my 
(I know not whether I ought to say) manner or ^manner — 
from a natural fear lest the ship capsize, to go over to the 
other side with as much force as is possible with my small 
weight.” Now some such duty as this is felt by us to be ours, 
although it may be but little that we can hope to accomplish. 
We have to be, in a sense, on the watch, lest the ship strike on 
a rock, or become grounded on some sand-bank. We are 
