47B 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
For many months past, several members of the medical profes- 
sion have been quietly at work in the formation of a society for the 
investigation of epidemic diseases. The recent severe visitation of 
cholera, the diversity of opinion among medical men as to its origin 
and treatment, and the apprehension of another visitation, have 
given a strong stimulus to the undertaking, and created an interest 
in its success, not only in the profession, but among the intelligent 
classes of society. 
The London medical journals have hailed the new association, 
which has received for its name The Epidemiological Society, 
in language of approbation and encouragement. It has certainly 
commenced auspiciously. Dr. Babington (the much respected 
translator of Hecker’s works on the Epidemics of the middle ages), 
an honoured member of our own (veterinary) Board of Examina- 
tion, has consented to preside over the Society, and the list of 
Vice-Presidents contains some of the first names in the medical 
profession. The framework of the Society is constructed on a 
liberal and comprehensive scale. It is not intended that the 
Council should consist exclusively of medical men, but should in- 
clude the names of scientific gentlemen whose pursuits enable them 
to further the objects of the Society. The botanist, the chemist, 
the meteorologist, the microscopical observer, the veterinary pro- 
fessor, the traveller, as well as gentlemen connected with sanatory 
and statistical inquiries, have all been solicited, and have entered 
with ready consent into the service of a Society which, we trust, 
will prove a benefit to mankind, if not to brutekind, at large. 
It is obvious that the proceedings, in order to be really useful, 
must be attended with considerable expense ; and we are glad to 
observe a feature which is unusual in scientific societies, and which 
we are sure will be liberally appreciated by the public; viz. that 
the funds of the Society are not to be limited by the number of 
annual subscriptions of one guinea each, paid by the working 
members, but that the donations of the affluent may be placed at 
the disposal of the Society. 
We heartily wish the undertaking success, and rejoice in the 
reflection that, should the cholera again break out among us, a 
band of zealous men are already enlisted to meet the first advances 
