18 ON THE CHARACTER OF “ THE VETERINARIAN / 1 &C. 
Should any of the idlers who have leisure to waste on trifles, 
instead of writing for your publication, attempt to pry into so 
unimportant a secret as the name of the individual whose humble 
task it will be to fill a few pages of the only publication that can 
be considered as our proper field, their ingenuity will be exercised 
in vain. 
I know that some of your readers are of opinion that “remi¬ 
niscences” are nothing better than old almanacks; and so, 
indeed, they are to some : but as old almanacks will serve as 
guides to him whose far-seeing eye knows how to trace the 
brilliant course of the heavenly bodies through their “ wilds of 
empyreal blue,” in like manner will recollections of by-gone 
days enable the man of thought and reflection to trace the 
progress of human events, knowing from previous data the direc¬ 
tion in which human passions will impel the earthy bodies of 
little men. 
By your insertion of this in your next Veterinarian, I shall 
be encouraged to proceed. 
ON THE CHARACTER OF “THE VETERINARIAN,” 
ON THE SUPPOSED CURES OF GLANDERS, AND 
ON MR. VINES’ WRITINGS ON THOSE SUBJECTS. 
By Mr. W. C. Spooner, V.S., Winchester. 
The arrival of the December number of The Veterinarian 
reminds us that another year is about to expire—that another 
volume has been completed. Well, Messieurs Editors, I con¬ 
gratulate you, that your favourite at six years old still stands 
sound, and that its performances continue to give general satis¬ 
faction. On a minute examination, I can discover no “ alteration 
in structure or impairment of function I therefore cannot refuse 
to certify that I perceive no signs of unsoundness whatever. 
But has it reached perfection ?—By no means: although free from 
blemish and without vice—although the health is good, and there 
is no occasion for physic, there is still a capability of carrying 
more good flesh; and its friends may be assured that it only needs 
a larger supply of veterinary food to push it still farther and 
farther in the career of improvement and utility. 
And is it now a twelvemonth since one of its best contributors 
was hurried to the tomb?—to the tomb I said, but not to the 
tomb of the Capulets.—No ! As long as the volumes of The 
Veterinarian are preserved; whilst there exists in the pro¬ 
fession a capability of appreciating rare talents, professional 
