56 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
of the committee, will gladly receive subscriptions, which 
are to be paid on or before the 31st of March, and not to 
exceed the sum of One Guinea from each person. 
ON APPOINTMENTS IN THE ARMY OE VETERINARY 
SURGEONS. 
We have readily given insertion in our present number to 
a communication signed “ Paterfamilias,” because we believe 
that it is the duty of every parent to weigh well the advantages 
and disadvantages which belong to any situation in life 
before he determines on educating his son for it. We incline 
to the opinion that this is too often lost sight of by parents; 
and we would that our public seminaries were so ordered 
that youths should be there instructed for the calling or 
pursuit most consonant with their inclinations, since fortu- 
nately all have not the same, rather than that a routine of 
studies should be adopted, which may, perhaps, be hereafter 
turned to no account. In how many instances is it the case 
that a youth has, in after life, to begin de novo , nearly all 
that he has learned at school being of comparatively little 
worth. 
But while we thus highly commend “ Paterfamilias” for the 
institution of his pertinent inquiries, there are some of them to 
which we may be permitted to take an objection, inasmuch 
as they admit of modifications. We have always looked 
upon the appointments in the army, whether in Her Majesty’s 
or the Hon. East India Company’s Service, as belonging to 
the few higher attainments in the profession. In a 
corresponding degree we have, therefore, endeavoured to 
promote the interests of those who have been desirous of 
obtaining these appointments, and in a corresponding ratio 
we feel that anything which tends to detract from the 
advantages which they possess lessens their worth or value. 
Firstly, We would remark that the period of probation 
adverted to is not a fixed or definite one ; sincq it would be 
