24 
ADDRESS TO THE EDITOR. 
horses whose system has been in an unhealthy and debilitated 
state, and yet neither glanders nor farcy has supervened ; and I 
have seen these diseases both occur in horses that otherwise pre¬ 
sented every appearance of health and vigour. 
Mr. Vines goes on to say, that, u in proof of this I may ad¬ 
vance, that the diseases of a common inflammatory origin, from 
neglect or improper treatment, frequently degenerate into glanders 
and farcy.” Now this may be very true as an individual fact; 
but how this can prove Mr. Vines’s position I cannot tell. Mr. 
Vines’reasoning is, that because strangles, colds, See. frequently 
degenerate into glanders, therefore it follows that the system 
must be in a healthy state when these diseases occur, and in an 
unhealthy state when glanders and farcy take place. This is 
just as good reasoning as that “ Tenderden steeple is the cause 
of Goodwin sands;” because, before the former was built, the 
latter did not exist. And if it is ambiguous, then what becomes 
of Mr. Vines’s defiance? 
u O wad some pow’r the giftie gie us 
To see oursels as others see us!” 
Mr. Vines has certainly no right to the motto, “ Aut Cresar 
aut nihil he should, therefore, in future, be satisfied with 
partial praise ; and in his literary attempts not allow the feelings 
of rancour to usurp the empire of reason, or vanity and egotism 
to push common sense aside. 
I am afraid I have intruded much too long on your space with 
my desultory remarks; but I will only add, that my object has 
been solely the promotion of inquiry and the elucidation of 
truth. My observations have been freely made: I hope they 
will be fairly received;—“ Honi soit qui mal y pense.” So, wishing 
The Veterinarian, its editors, and contributors, a happy 
new year, 
I am, &c. 
ON ANASARCA, AND THE EFFECT OF PURGATIVE 
MEDICINE ON RUMINANTS. 
By Mr. E. A. Friend, US'., Walsall . 
Gentlemen,— Allow me to pay my respects to you in the first 
number of The Veterinarian for 1834. Allow me also (for 
it is yet in time) to wish you a “ Merry Christmasand should 
there be amongst you less of the wassail and the wine cup ; should 
the yule log burn less brightly on your hearths than it was wont 
to do in the olden times, when this country was emphatically 
termed “ Merrie England;” may you still experience no lack of 
good cheer, and valued friends to assist your enjoyment of it! 
