590 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
tween two of the greatest nations on the earth, rendered so 
by their love of liberty and independence; communicating in- 
formation and uniting the ocean-divided sons of the Anglo- 
Saxon race ; when the application of steam, as a motive 
power, has effected a revolution greater and more noble than 
ever was witnessed since men formed themselves into com- 
munities, and each endeavoured to supplant the other; when 
all divisions of science are making such rapid strides, and 
her laws are applied to the economics of life, so that gain 
accompanies progress ; for us to stand still would be simply 
suicidal, to say the least of it. No, we must be no laggards 
in the field, but up and doing; for otherwise we shall be dis- 
tanced in the race. 
Such being the present state of society, it is imperative 
that we continue to advance, and that the means for the 
acquirement of knowledge, as presented by the schools to 
the student of veterinary medicine, be not lost sight of 
by him, but carefully attended to; and in addition to these 
- — to speak of no other at the present time — we would re- 
commend to him a continuous course of thoughtful and sys- 
tematic reading. And this not only during the period he is 
at the College, but ever afterwards, if so be there is on his 
part any desire to keep pace with the progress of mind. In 
fact, he must be contented to be a student all his life ; for 
it is only by this devotion to study that any distinction can 
be arrived at, while it is by intellectual culture that the 
noblest and most enduring pleasures are obtained. When 
the mind is not occupied, the grosser passions take the lead, 
and acquiring the predominancy, man becomes a slave to his 
lusts. 
We remember once hearing, with no little surprise, one to 
whom the veterinary profession is much indebted, and 
“ Take him for all in all, 
We ne’er shall look upon his like again,” 
say in answer to the inquiry, What books shall I read ? 
“None at all : attend to my lectures. 5 ’ This was an error of 
judgment, and man is liable to err. At that time, however, 
there were but few, if any, works of authority to which he 
