EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
49 
all has been gained that was anticipated by some on the 
change of Editors taking place, or whether loss has not been 
sustained, it is not for us to say. We have already stated the 
motives by which we have been actuated. We were not 
ignorant of the difficulties that lay before us, nor the disad- 
vantages under which we laboured, arising from following 
those who were both older and more experienced than our- 
selves in these matters ; still we knew the reputation the 
journal had long possessed, and trusted the prestige it had 
gained would last at least for some little time longer, so that 
by the kind support of our friends we might be enabled to 
maintain its standing; and in this we have not been disap- 
pointed. Being, therefore, satisfied with the encouragement 
we have hitherto obtained, we have now only to trust in its 
continuance. Of this our readers may rest assured, — we 
shall not slacken in our efforts to merit it. 
The contents of the last volume we believe to have been as 
varied and as interesting as any of the antecedent ones. The 
appeal made at its commencement to those of our profes- 
sional brethren who had lately returned from the Crimean 
war to furnish us with some reminiscences thereof, was 
kindly responded to by Messrs. T. W. Mayer, G. Fleming, 
and T. Paton ; to whom our acknowledgments are due. 
Besides this, there is another subject to which we may be 
permitted to allude, as being pregnant with importance, and 
to which the attention of our readers has been directed ; we 
allude to the question of “ Soundness and Unsoundness in 
Horses.” This w 7 as introduced by Mr. Hawthorn, and has 
continued to employ the pens of Messrs. Dickens, Dyer, 
Gregory, and Gibbon, up to the present time ; each offering 
his particular views, and all alike joining in the desirability 
that something definite should be arrived at, both for the 
sake of the profession and the public. As we cannot 
think the subject is exhausted, we hope it will be taken 
up by others; although we had rather that the plan 
proposed by Mr. Gregory should be adopted, namely, to 
form a Committee of Inquiry. But then comes the question, 
Will the profession, as a body, and the public be governed 
xxxi. 7 
