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THE VETERINARIAN, OCTOBER 1, 18G0. 
Ne quid falsi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat. — Cicero. 
IMPORTANCE OE A KNOWLEDGE OE THERAPEUTICS. 
With much gratification we insert in the present number 
the first of a series of papers on Therapeutics, by Pro¬ 
fessor Brown, M.R.C.V.S., of the Royal Agricultural College, 
Cirencester. The time had doubtlessly arrived when this 
important division of medicine should be brought thus pro¬ 
minently forward; and we are glad it has fallen into such 
hands, for both theoretically and practically Mr. Brown is 
able to cope with the subject. 
We are of opinion that therapeutics, or that part of 
medicine which treats of the composition, application, and 
modes of operation of the remedies for diseases, has been 
too long neglected by us as a profession. We think we see 
in this the cause of the indifference manifested by too many 
as to the modus operandi of agents on the organism, 
and the adherence to the routine of treatment as laid down 
by those of the old school, as well as the scepticism attendant 
on the introduction of a new remedy, not to say opposition 
often made to a trial of its powers. It is true, we have divested 
ourselves of very many, if not of most, of the absurdities of 
our forefathers; yet too many of them still remain, clogging 
the wheels of science. The day, unquestionably, has gone by 
for the employment of the useless “ compound powders” of 
the farrier, with his farrago of trashy and unchemical combi¬ 
nations ; more simple and more decisive agents being now re¬ 
sorted to. This, doubtless, is the result of the spirit of in¬ 
quiry and investigation that now pervades every section of 
science, and which, whilst it robs medicine of its seeming 
mysteries, nevertheless enables us with greater certainty to 
relieve the sufferings of animals. No one will gainsay the 
