EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
45 
fore for the sake of the jury, and for the sake of justice, 
most important that medical witnesses should use the sim¬ 
plest, plainest possible language. He asked pardon for thus 
giving advice, but there was not a man in England who held 
the medical profession in higher esteem and respect than he 
did.” 
Thus have we noticed the salient portions of our last year's 
proceedings, and assuredly there is in them manifest proofs 
of onward progress, and much to encourage us to go for¬ 
ward. It is the nature of all science to advance. It cannot 
remain stationary. ^\t the same time, the locus standi of 
any society or community may be ascertained by the state of 
its literature ; and we hope and believe that in this among us 
there is at present no falling off. Nevertheless, as yet, only 
the outskirts of the great field of usefulness have been examined 
by us. We have yet to explore it and develop its riches. 
But if aught of blame be attributable to the feebleness and 
shortcomings of our labours, others, perchance, may be 
equally culpable. Therefore we would say, in the lan¬ 
guage of Milton-— 
Let us no more contend ; nor blame 
Each other, blamed enough elsewhere ; but strive, 
In offices of love, how we may lighten 
Each other’s burdens in our share of woe.” 
Still our work is not yet done, nor have we any wish to 
become fossilized; and while our friends continue to afford 
to us the support they have hitherto done, we shall go on, 
strengthened and encouraged, being convinced that the cause 
is worthy of all the energy we can impart to it, and the full 
employment of the few talents that we possess. We will not 
say we are not emulous of fame, but wc also know the brittle- 
ness of the slender thread on which popularity hangs; 
nevertheless, having a desire to be found useful in our day, 
and among those with whom Providence has placed us, and 
remembering that on others must soon—how soon we know 
not—devolve the duties we are now endeavouring to per¬ 
form, we have placed before our mental vision, so as to actuate 
us to continued earnestness, the expressive line of the 
poet— 
“ Not to be missed is infamy.” 
