248 
EDITORIAL. 
reciprocate as well as we were able to, whatever good offices 
they might render to us, and our, and their professional 
brethren. But the enthusiasm seems to have lacked perma¬ 
nence, and like a lightly laid bonfire of shavings which at first 
flashes with brilliant effect and promise, but soon becomes 
exhausted, is now, if not entirely dead, to-be seen in the ashes 
which marks the place where it was. Only this remains, with¬ 
out even a spark to illuminate the spot, and only dark obscur¬ 
ity remains. 
Why is this ? The work of veterinary societies belongs 
properly to the veterinary profession. The papers that are 
read at their meetings, and the discussions which follow, ought 
to be diffused among the veterinary fraternity. And so long 
as our veterinary journals are comparatively so silent con¬ 
cerning our veterinary societies, the question will press itself 
upon the inquiring mind as to what is the trouble ? Are the 
societies dead, or are the veterinary journals to continue to 
be ignored by them, and the work that is done in their meet¬ 
ings remained buried under the ashes of their first and deserv¬ 
ing efforts, now wholly spent? 
Certainly the few items which have appeared in some of 
our late journals cannot be compared with the reports which 
were given to the public but a short while ago in the pages 
of our veterinary publications. What is the cause of the 
change? Can the secretaries of our societies inform us? 
Rats as Disease Carriers. —During a visit received 
some time since from Dr. S. E. Weber, of Lancaster, Pa., he 
told us of the somewhat interesting work in which he had 
been engaged, in investigating the field of pathology of some 
of the rodentia—more especially that of rats—and the results 
which he had obtained from numerous post-mortem examina 
tions. These had been of so satisfactory a character that he 
felt, in duty bound, to place himself on record as one of the 
first explorers in his chosen field, and with this in view hfl 
has already put some observations in print, besides reading t 
long paper on the subject before the Keystone Veterinary 
Medical Association. 
The fact that, so far as we know, the rat has not hithertc 
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