THE EDITOR. 
483 
for an exclusive publication, I cannot but too plainly foresee its 
downfal; for “a house divided against itself cannot stand and, 
however specious and alluring the project may appear to those 
who framed it, the practicability will not be found so easy of ac- 
complishment. In conclusion, I, as a member of the Associa- 
tion, enter my protest against any change ; but should I unfor- 
tunately be over-ruled, on this, Mr. Editor, you may depend, — 
that, individually, I shall never forget the man who has fought 
all or most of our battles, and gained some signal victories ; but 
that I shall still further tax my humble abilities, if by so doing I 
can add any thing to the common stock, or enhance the reputa- 
tion of a Journal which ought to be the pride of English veterina- 
rians, as much as it is the admiration of foreigners. 
From Mr. Robert Read, F.S., Crediton. 
Although far from being in good health, I cannot suffer the 
August number to go to press without expressing my opinion of 
passing events. 
During the last ten years I have been a reader of The Vete- 
rinarian, and have been well pleased with its proceedings. It 
has been the means of making me verbally acquainted with the 
members of the profession, and I must confess that I have been 
benefitted thereby. 
The Veterinarian is the only channel through which mem- 
bers of the profession can be known to each other. Personal 
knowledge is out of the question, from various causes. I per- 
ceive in the last number of the Journal, that it is the opinion of 
some members that the plain exposition of our practice does 
harm. Now, in my firm conviction, it does good among the farm- 
ers ; and so far from thinking that it is an evil, I often put The 
Veterinarian into their hands to read some particular case ; 
and thus much I can boldly say, that it has, in numerous in- 
stances, been the means of discarding the empiric and bringing 
the veterinary surgeon into their employ. It is well known, that 
nearly every farmer, every groom, every bailiff, and I may say 
half of our country gentlemen, think that to be a complete vete- 
rinary surgeon is to be possessed of certain receipts for every 
disorder. What has The Veterin a ri an done ? — why, plainly 
told them, that an universal panacea is all humbug, and that our 
practice is guided by rule and method, and not by hap-hazard 
treatment. Many who have read the work on “ The Horse," 
from being a little initiated, are ten times more timid than they 
were before, and send for the veterinarian as soon as any thing 
