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REVIEW.— LATHAM’S LECTURES 
A ready discernment of disease — an apprehension of all its 
changing characters, and all its previously-unsuspected com- 
binations ; and, thence resulting, a skill in the use of remedies 
which no lectures, no book-learning, can supply — a skill that 
exalts the previous interest of the studies — and an interest that 
improves the skill, until, in process of time, experience ripens 
into scientific and successful practice : an interest that is warmed 
by humanity — that is exalted into a principle — that is invested 
with a moral motive, and that passes into the heart. 
At the foundation of the old Veterinary Society, it was a rule 
among us, that the dresser of the week, if he was a member, 
should present us with a clinical report of one or more cases that 
occurred in his week. This did him good, and it did us all 
good ; it made us all, to a greater or less degree, clinical stu- 
dents ; for we were anxious to know a little beforehand of the 
case that was to be reported. Most of us can speak with per- 
fect satisfaction of the additional hours, which we were 
thus induced to spend in the stables. We could not, however, 
always keep our dressers up to the mark ; and the default of one 
led to the negligence of another, and the usage was, to our 
shame, discontinued. 
Dr, Latham’s work is a truly excellent one, connected with 
this subject. It is avowedly in recommendation of clinical study ; 
it points out the imperative necessity of this branch of medi- 
cal education, and in a most interesting way unfolds the manner 
in which it may be most profitably pursued. It is addressed 
immediately to the medical student ; but the veterinary student 
may derive from it almost equal advantage. The method of 
taking cases — the necessary caution in the reading of books — the 
danger of indiscriminate medical reading — the delusions, and the 
irreparable mischief of theoretical writings, and theoretical lectures 
— the observation, and collection, and arrangement of facts — the 
true relation between cause and effect — the peculiar difficulties of 
inquiry, and the danger of hasty conclusions — the sources of 
disease — the observation of symptoms — the classification of them 
— the danger and delusion attending the inquiry — the influence 
of remedies — the danger and delusion here from our own credu- 
lity or that of others — the nature of general principles in medi- 
cine ; all these are points of indescribable importance, and they 
are touched with a masterly hand. 
Perhaps there is more stress laid on auscultation than is appli- 
cable to the veterinary pupil ; but there can be no doubt that 
this method of detecting the seat and the progress of disease, in 
the respiratory organs at least, is much undervalued among us. 
We perfectly agree with Mr. Stewart, that the progress of the 
