60 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
At the commencement of the 11th volume of The Veterinarian, we 
insert, as a point of duty, as an expression of gratitude, and as a matter of 
triumph, the names of the avowed Contributors to our Journal. They are 
no fewer than one hundred and ninety-two. On support to such an extent, 
we frankly acknowledge that we had not calculated. Some of them are gone 
to their long home; but the memory of the services which they have rendered 
to their profession, and of their individual worth, will never pass away. 
There are no circumstances to which the Editor of The Veterinarian 
oftener reverts with chastened but dearly cherished recollection, than the 
unrestrained personal intercourse, or the frequent epistolary communication, 
which his connexion with this periodical led him to have with John Perci- 
vall, and Castley, and many others of the lights of former days. 
Circumstances have produced alienation, to a greater or less degree, be¬ 
tween him and a few of those whose names are here recorded. What shall 
he say of them or to them ? His periodical still survives, it is the recognized 
veterinary journal; and never shall its pages be disgraced by that spirit and 
language which while they disgrace, necessarily defeat the object which it 
prof^esses to seek. It shall never lend itself to the gratification of malignant 
feelings, nor absurdly and fruitlessly labour to establish that reputation 
which is attempted to be founded on the denial of the claims of every other 
labourer. This being premised—if there is aught by which our common 
cause—the progress of veterinary science—may be benefitted, let every per¬ 
sonal feeling stand in abeyance. 
To the other of our 192 friends, to whom our periodical is indebted for 
all its worth, we cordially thank them, and we will try to deserve their future 
support. Many a case stands upon record in their journals, or is deeply 
impressed on their minds, the knowledge of which would be instructive and 
useful to their brethren; and although we know the labour of body and of 
mind which many of them undergo, yet we also know that, a few minutes 
now and then being devoted to a useful purpose, much more may be accom¬ 
plished than we are sometimes disposed to think. 
And the more than 192 good and honest friends, who heartily wish us 
well, although they have not yet begun to contribute their quota to our 
common stock ! We will not degrade our periodical by begging for assist¬ 
ance to it: we will only ask them to consider, how valuable a work their 
brethren have contributed to produce, and to recollect the account which 
Milton gives of some such a book: “ Many a man lives a burden to the earth ; 
but a good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit—(ours of many 
a master-spirit) embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond 
life. ’ Tis true, no age can restore a life whereof, perhaps, there is no great 
loss; but the revolutions of ages do not always recover the loss of a neg¬ 
lected experiment or truth, and for the want of which whole generations 
may fare the worse.” 
