EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
169 
In reference to the “ Exemption Bill,” the Council have, in 
our opinion, sagaciously decided on not just immediately 
bringing it forward. In the present uncertain condition of their 
own concerns, the Houses of Parliament have too many and 
too grave matters to deliberate upon to devote any attention to 
private or professional “ Bills.” Before the period deemed 
favourable for appeal to parliament shall arrive, however, it is 
quite right that the Council should be prepared for the movement 
they intend to adopt. Representation and remonstrance must be 
carried to their legitimate extent, and this may be followed up 
by petitioning ; though petitions, now-a-days, are so notoriously 
little attended to in the “ House,” that, unless special attention 
be directed to them, they are likely to “ lie on the table,” little 
heeded, or all but unnoticed. We think that, in the case of the 
veterinary surgeon, the same pleas might be urged for “ ex¬ 
emption ” as in that of the surgeon; for, though in the latter 
case they, of course, carry with them paramount vital concern, 
still life is at stake in both cases, and most certainly ought, in 
the case of the horse even, at the least to be cared for ; if not 
on the score of humanity, on that of the value set on him—which 
occasionally is great—by the owner of the animal. Is the life 
of a valuable horse to be perilled and set at nought through the 
veterinary surgeon being called away to sit on a jury, or serve 
in some parochial office 1 We think it ought not, and we feel 
assured we do not here think alone. Let us, then, endeavour 
to enlist horse -men in our cause—all M.P.’s who know horses 
well enough to estimate their worth, and set a due value upon 
them. Proprietors of valuable studs, and masters of large 
establishments of every denomination wherein horses in large 
numbers are emplo}^ed, would be the persons most likely to aid 
our cause; while theirs are the most fit and influential names 
we could obtain to our petitions. Were its objects properly 
set forth on our side, and understood and appreciated on the 
other, we should entertain no apprehensions for the success of 
the Bill save what arose from opposition, no more definable in 
nature than calculable in extent. 
We arc somewhat surprised that the Council should have 
passed over unnoticed certain veterinary appointments which 
