26 
Facts and Observations. 
THE PROSPECTS OE THE VETERINARY PROFESSION. 
A gentleman recently returned from Australia informs 
us that, in consequence of lack of veterinarians when pleuro¬ 
pneumonia broke out in the colony, several non-professional 
persons were appointed as inspectors at a salary of four 
guineas per diem. From another source we learn that, in the 
province of Otago, in New Zealand, several “ scab inspectors,” 
who have to report on the disease of sheep, and especially to 
inquire as to the progress of the dreaded scab, have been 
appointed at large salaries from amongst farmers, in conse¬ 
quence of the want of veterinary surgeons. There is but one 
veterinarian in Otago, whose prosperit} r is only equalled by 
the great need for his services felt by the colonists within his 
reach .—Scottish Farmer. 
FORMATION OE GALL-STONES. 
Dr. Thudichum has observed casts of the biliary ducts in 
the very centre of gall-stones, from which he infers that the 
formation of these concretions is not confined to the gall¬ 
bladder. In this view he is borne out by the fact that in the 
horse accumulations of this kind are met with in the ductus 
choledochus communis of that animal. 
According to him, the essential constituents of gall-stones 
are cholochrome, cholic and choloidic acids, and earthy salts; 
these being the products which are precipitated during the pu¬ 
trefaction of bile out of the body. His conclusions, therefore, 
are that gall-stones result from a putrefactive change set up 
in the bile, by which it acquires an acid reaction. 
ARTIFICIAL PRODUCTION OF DISEASE. 
Dr. Harley has lately stated, that medical science had 
arrived at that stage of advancement that they had not only 
the power of initiating, but also at pleasure calling into 
existence, certain diseases. Tlius, for example, by injecting 
