316 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
had no difficulty in tracing the prevalence of certain diseases 
to them. 
Lastly, to name no other cause why a love of science is 
not paramount with us, may be stated the fact that some 
persons enter the profession as a mode of “ getting a 
living” merely, having no aptitude for acquiring scientific 
knowledge, nor any real love for it. Such a circumstance 
as this cannot fail to lesson the dignity of a profession, inti¬ 
mately connected as its pursuit is with that which materially 
contributes to the happiness of the community at large. 
Moreover, it is often the case that the persons we are now 
adverting to, have not obtained the necessary preliminary 
education. What has been laid down in reference to the 
education of the medical man may in great measure apply to 
the Veterinary Surgeon, since the pursuit of each is similar; 
differing only in degree of responsibility, arising from a 
difference in the value and importance of the animals 
entrusted to their care. Preliminary knowledge is alike 
indispensable in both, in order to become skilful and con¬ 
scientious practitioners. The medical council of the king¬ 
dom has recently enacted that no student beginning profes¬ 
sional studv after 1861 shall be registered who has not 
passed an examination in arts. In order to command the 
respect of society and maintain the dignity of his profession, 
the medical man must know something more than the mere 
practical duties of his calling. He ought, at least, to be the 
equal in point of general education of his associates in 
society. It is scarcely necessary to remark that he ought 
to have an intimate knowledge of English grammar and 
composition, and of history, geography, and arithmetic. The 
study of mathematics, too, constitutes a part of the acquire¬ 
ments of every well-educated member of society, while at the 
same time it is one of the best preparations for encountering 
the abstruse problems of medical science. Without some 
knowledge of Latin and Greek, it seems impossible that the 
student could understand the terms which are employed in 
every page of medical literature, while a proficiency in at 
least one of the modern languages is essential to those who 
desire to keep pace with the progress of medical science. 
