EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
183 
us in their mortal coil to put down such audacities 1 Will 
not Bracey Clark again buckle on his armour once more to enter 
the lists as the champion of expansion; or will he simply lift up 
his head in his easy chair, and exclaim, out of pity for a man to 
all appearances so beside himself — “ alas ! poor Gloag 1” Surely, 
judgment in such a case will not be let ‘‘go by default!” Surely 
there still are left those of the profession who will stand up for their 
own, if not for their veterinary ancestors’ cherished theories, by the 
side of Mr. Reeve 1 We could hardly imagine a more sensitive 
chord could have been touched to arouse the members of the ve- 
terinary body than that of the expansion of the foot ; and yet, as 
Mr. Gloag with great truth says, “ a wonderful apathy” has been 
manifested on a subject “ which one would naturally consider to 
be of great importance.” To say the least about the matter, as it 
stands, the dogma of “ expansion” has certainly sustained a shake ; 
but whether that be likely to affect its foundation or not remains to 
be shewn. That there are those of the profession who have re- 
ceived their professional births since the days of Coleman, and 
who, unlike ourselves, think differently from what Coleman did 
on the subject, we have reason enough to know for certain; and 
therefore is it the more urgently called for from the old school, 
that they should come forward and shew reason for maintaining 
their position. One thing we can venture to assure them of — 
and that is, that in the present condition of affairs nothing is 
likely to pass current save the result of actual experiment . Au- 
thority and precedent seem now condemned to go for nothing. 
In reference to Mr. Steevens’ inquiry concerning his case of 
“ Influenza” with its somewhat uncommon “ sequels,” it is our in- 
tention, at no very distant period, to enter into some investigation 
touching that comparatively modern and most comprehensive class 
of diseases yclept Influenza. At certain seasons of the year — 
during spring and fall in particular — almost all the sickness we 
have to treat comes before us in the form of Influenza. Certainly, 
all the cases do not pursue similar courses, go through the same 
stages, or have like terminations. Still, there exists that general 
resemblance between them, especially in their nascent stage, that 
betokens they all belong to one order or genus of disease. And 
