54 
EDITORIAL. 
better than bad legislation. Matters may go right under an¬ 
archy—they must go wrong under a bad law. Veterinarians 
ought now to be strong enough to obtain a proper recognition 
and regulation of their profession. If they are not, it would be 
better without any. But if they must have a law, let them not 
venture to press their demand for it until they are unanimously 
earnest in tlieir action ; unanimously honest and worthy of the 
distinction they seek; devoted to their profession and jealous of 
the honor it confers and merits . 
Sanitary Reports. —The reports of the official veterinarians, 
acting in various capacities, in several of the States, have reached 
* us, and they embody much information of value and interest on 
the subject of the contagious diseases of the domestic animals of 
the United States. The fear of the extension of contagious 
pleuro-pneumonia and the preventive measures recommended 
against it, occupy an important place in the reports of Drs. 
Holcombe and Hopkins, while the extensive existence of tuber¬ 
culosis, glanders, hog cholera and anthrax, in its various forms, 
are mentioned in all, giving a general idea of the losses annually 
sustained from the ravages of disease amongst this living property 
so largely constituting the wealth of our people. In Europe, 
sanitary reports are published by authority, and find their way 
through the veterinary papers to an interested public. Some 
time ago we suggested the propriety of the adoption of this cus¬ 
tom in this country. Our case, however, failed to meet with so 
favorable a reception as we anticipated, and now, when informa¬ 
tion may be required on these subjects, it must be hunted for in 
the Reports of the State Veterinarians on file with the States 
employing them. It will scarcely be contended that this is the 
best way. 
u Horse Breeding Recollections,” by Count Lelmdorff, is a 
very handsomely printed book of sixty-four pages, received by us 
from Messrs. Porter & Coates, of Philadelphia. The work is 
illustrated by a number of very fine engraved portraits of rare 
horses. The Count is well known in thorough horse-breeding 
circles, and his observation are of much value to all, and especi¬ 
ally to persons interested in particular breeds. The question of 
