334 
VETERINARY DISCOVERIES. 
anonymous friends, yet we regret to be compelled once more to 
say, that we will not admit a single communication that is not 
to us authenticated by the name of the writer. In the present 
state of veterinary affairs, this is a proper, an indispensable 
guarantee, as it regards ourselves and the profession. We do 
not demand that the name of our correspondent should go before 
the public, but we will know with whom we have to do ; and there 
shall be no stabbing in the dark while we have to do with The 
Veterinarian. 
An acknowledged correspondent will occasionally find a niche 
in our journal, even although his should be “ words that burn.'’ 
We can allow much for the warmth of controversy, although our 
sincere wish is, that of the vast majority of our readers and every 
well-wisher to veterinary science, that the cause should never be 
compromised or put to hazard by the bad temper with which it is 
defended. A communication in the present number would have 
better suited our taste, if it had not been so strongly worded, 
and if personal feeling had not a little too much mingled with 
scientific discussion ; but as an attack had been made upon this 
gentleman, or, at least, a reference to him in the preceding 
number, we could not refuse him the privilege of defending him¬ 
self. 
We wish we could convince every disputant, that plus ratio 
quam vis cceca valere solet , and that the reputation and the cause 
they advocated would be best supported when they could say, 
“ Neque extra necessitates belli prcecipuum odium gero ” 
If, however, we cannot insert the letters of our anonymous 
correspondents, we may briefly reply to them. To “ Fair Play, 1 ’ 
cc Scrutator,” and “ A Vet.,” w r e say, that although we are sick 
of the word “ discovery,” and are often inclined to believe that 
they who are rancorously quarrelling about their discoveries, are 
far more influenced by personal vanity than love of their pro¬ 
fession, yet “ suum cuique ” is a motto w hich should never be 
forgotten in morals or science ; and, therefore, we have no he¬ 
sitation in saying (and we do but express the opinion of the ma¬ 
jority of our brethren), that, setting aside a great many absurd 
pretensions, a great many wild theories and wilder practices, 
