EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 37 
sion being thus obtained, that which has been so long a 
desideratum may in the end be possessed bj r us. 
Mr. Watson’s papers on the too long neglected science of 
“ Botany as applied to Veterinary Medicine ” maintain 
their interest, while he eagerly seizes every opportunity to 
enhance their value by practical illustrations. 
To Mr. Ernes we continue to be indebted for translations 
from the continental veterinary journals, thus making us 
acquainted with what is being done by our professional 
brethren at a distance from us, yet all co-operating for the 
advancement of our division of science. 
It is very encouraging to see appended to each last of 
these communications the words “ To he continued ” Our 
response is, “Esto perpetua.” This free interchange of 
information resembles the mighty ocean, which, although it 
is constantly throwing off water in the state of vapour, 
that gives beauty and fertility to the earth, yet diminishes 
not, for the water having fulfilled its destined purposes is 
returned in the form of rivers, and thus the sea is always 
full; constituting one of the great cycles in creation, and 
indicating wisdom and design. 
Heartilv do we concur with “Mentor” that to have 
%/ 
secrets in the profession is at once a disgrace, and signifies 
a plebeian character and a tendency to quackery; while to 
be ready to communicate to each other shows an elevation 
of mind which is a symptom of a sound and healthy state 
of the body corporate, and a proof of v r hat we have ever 
been strenuous advocates for, namely, union. It will, 
however, be borne in mind that while advocating union, we 
have never for a moment entertained the utopian idea of 
uniformity of opinion. Differences in this respect must and 
ever will exist, and perhaps it is quite right they should. 
Controversy, per se, may professionally be no evil; it is 
the manner in which it is conducted that conduces to this. 
“ Proud oppressors, civil or ecclesiastical, might deprecate 
all discussion, and wish to control all human intellect. They 
might desire a quietude like the calm of the Dead Sea or 
of the churchyard; but if silence reigned either in the 
social, political, or religious world, it would only be because 
