EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
591 
that the mind may not become wearied and forgetful of what 
it has acquired, vary your subjects, giving to each a well- 
considered portion of your time. By so doing memory will 
be strengthened, and facts be almost unconsciously accumu¬ 
lated by you, hereafter to be turned to profitable account. 
Of Sir Isaac Newton it has been said, that even his recreation 
consisted in a variety of his studies. Titus like, let not 
a day pass without learning something new, or it will be “ a 
day lost/ 5 
Above all, be not contented with a mere superficial ac¬ 
quaintance with your studies. Strive for the mastery in all 
things. Become familiar with the minutest details, for this 
will simplify that which is complex. Students are very 
apt hastily to pass over what may be considered elementary, 
thus disregarding principles, and forgetting that it is 
by these the mind becomes disciplined and strengthened so 
as to excel. Some few difficulties may present themselves 
at the first, but the power of labour will soon surmount 
them. Depend on it, ardent study is the inevitable con¬ 
dition of success. Repeated failures should only make you 
more determined. We are promised in the end to reap the 
reward, if we faint not. The most distinguished men have 
invariably been the most indefatigable labourers: place 
such before your minds as a stimulus to exertion. The 
celebrated John Hunter, who took a warm interest in the 
profession of veterinary medicine at its beginning, and carried 
out many of his experiments at the College, was a great 
genius, it is true, but he was also a most arduous labourer. 
Sir Charles Bell and Sir Astley Cooper, with many others 
whose names are intimately associated with your profession, 
and whose schools were open to its earlier members,—happily 
now no longer needed,—were all hard workers. It is true 
all men have not genius, which is defined by writers 
differently. Buffon says, “it is patience.” Johnson defines 
it to be “ a mind of large powers, accidentally determined in 
some particular direction.” John Foster characteristically 
held it to be “ the power of lighting one’s own fire.” But 
Carlyle says it “ means transcendental capacity for taking 
trouble first of all.” Here, then, in this last definition we 
