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THE VETERINARIAN, JUNE 1, I860. 
Ne quid falsi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat. — Cicero. 
VETERINARY OBSTETRICS. 
A considerable portion of our present number is occu¬ 
pied with the subject of veterinary obstetrics, which at this 
time is being discussed with more than usual animation by 
the profession. We have hitherto purposely refrained from 
making any observations on this important division of prac¬ 
tice, that we might not fetter the free expression of the 
opinions of others; nor should we, even now, have alluded 
to it but for the fact that, in our opinion, a great injustice 
has been done the profession by the statements which are 
put forth in a paper read by Mr. Gamgee, at the West of 
Scotland Veterinary Association, and published in our present 
number. Without doubt it is an unjust accusation to bring 
against the veterinary surgeons of Great Britain, that ob¬ 
stetrics have been “ neglected both as a science and an art.” 
On the contrary, we know of many who are experts in the 
treatment of these cases, and whose knowledge is founded 
on the scientific and practical information they obtained during 
their pupilage. For a long series of years we can trace back, 
without any break, the list of such men ; while we find others 
of but yesterday’s date ; as throughout the entire period these 
instructions have been perseveringly given to the students. 
It may be true that a small minority have profited but 
little by the teachings, because the good opinion of their own 
acquirements may have led them to repudiate the details of 
practice of this kind, and not only to turn a deaf ear to words 
but a closed eye to the illustrations of cases. Self-sufficiency 
is the rock on which many make shipwreck. Such men in 
after life have not unfrequently had to regret the course they 
