EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
53 
their activity either increased or diminished ; and, to add no 
more, they may become affected with disease, of which we 
need only give one instance—the production of ergot in 
grasses—and animals feeding on them when in this state 
suffer oftentimes intensely. But if it be only that derange¬ 
ment of the digestive organs is set up, we know full well 
how many maladies have their origin in this. And then, to 
assign no more reasons, there is as yet the undiscovered cause 
why some plants prove so deleterious as they are known to 
be, such as yew, and the English l^e-grass. Under all these 
circumstances, it appears to us to be very desirable that 
veterinary surgeons should be conversant with the leading 
principles of botany, and we are glad that Mr. Watson, with 
whom this science has been long a favorite study, has chosen 
our Journal as the medium of communicating them to the 
profession, the members of which we well know are fre¬ 
quently called upon to decide as to whether a certain plant 
or vegetable partaken of has given rise to the symptoms 
manifested by the animal they are requested to attend. 
We concur with Mr. Watson in the views he has taken of 
the probable effects of high cultivation by the use of artificial 
manures, and did we want another fact to convince us of the 
practical benefits derivable from an acquaintance with botany, 
we would take that with which he closes his first paper. 
We would assure our younger friends, the rising mem¬ 
bers of the profession, that they will find the study of botany 
a source of almost indescribable pleasure, and highly con¬ 
ducive to health, whilst, also, it will be to them a relaxation 
from severer studies. Often, when a youth, the opening 
dawn has been anticipated by us as we rambled the fields in 
search of specimens, disturbing the lark, who carolled sweetly 
as upwards he rose to greet the sun. These specimens were 
afterwards compared with books of illustration at home, 
whenever favorable opportunities presented themselves during 
the day, for there are but few avocations that do not admit 
of this. Too often, however, such are allowed to pass away 
unheeded, or it may be they are occupied by less profitable 
pursuits. How pleasing is it in early spring to watch the 
