EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
165 
and foreign service. Every inducement also should be held 
out to them to prosecute their studies and to advance their 
own and their country’s interests, by zealously eultivating 
those splendid opportunities which are their special privilege. 
We have no reason whatever to doubt that if this be done 
the Army Veterinary Department will vie favorably with that 
of any other European power, well knowing, as we do, the 
material of which our colleagues in the army are com¬ 
posed. 
We have ventured to indicate the principal features of 
what we consider an important question ; and we have only 
to hope that those who listen to a statement of a grievance 
may have the power and the will to remove it. 
RETUENS OF THE STATE OE HEALTH OF ANIMALS USED 
AS FOOD FOR MAN. 
It is satisfactory to be able to state that our scheme has 
met with the approval of influential medical authorities as 
well as of agriculturists and members of the veterinary 
profession. Several veterinary surgeons in different parts 
of the country have kindly offered assistance, which we 
thankfully accept, with the expression of a hope that we 
may soon have a sufficient number of volunteers in our list 
to enable us to arrange and set in action an effective plan 
for the obtainment of the required information. One cor¬ 
respondent complains that inspectors were badly treated by 
the local authorities under the Cattle Plague Act, and 
seems to entertain the belief that the returns for which we 
ask may, in consequence, be withheld. We fail, however, 
to perceive the bearing of his objection upon the matter in 
hand. We do not ask for official reports from inspectors, 
but as conductors of the organ of the profession, we invite 
the co-operation of veterinary surgeons in carrying out what 
we deem a very important public work, holding ourselves 
