EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
171 
combat their effects, but more particularly to the employ¬ 
ment of the necessary means for the prevention of their 
spreading and reappearance; or, when this is impossible, 
the adoption of such measures as shall reduce their fatality 
or deteriorating consequences to the minimum point.” 
With these observations we must heartily concur; and we 
also perfectly agree with him when he asserts that “ the 
study of hygiene is of far more importance to the veterinary 
surgeon than the study of therapeutics, for surely there is 
much more true philosophy and more noble scientific 
research in the prevention of disease than in the cure of 
italbeit many may not be inclined to assent to this, 
they thinking that the province of the veterinary surgeon 
is solely the cure (so called by them) of diseases, which is 
a mistaken view of their duties, or, at any rate, this is only 
a part thereof. Science, philanthropy, and the general 
weal, demand a more liberal and extended application of 
their talents. We would only under this head suggest 
that a statistical account of these diseases be carefully 
registered, with all the facts obtainable in connection with 
them. Particularly should those maladies that are sporadic 
in their nature receive attention, and their peculiarities be 
noticed. By these means will the archives of veterinary 
medicine be both enlarged and enriched. 
The proposition made by the Secretary of the West of 
Scotland Association, Mr. A. Pottie, meets, too, with our 
warm approval, namely, that “ a portion of the funds of 
the society should occasionally be applied for testing the 
value of certain medicines, or proving the truth or error of 
cures said to be effected, either surgically or otherwise. 
Agents not possessed by many, as single 
individuals of the profession, might be procured at the 
society’s expense, and a trial made of them, more especially 
as we read at times, in our monthly publications, of new 
methods of treatment, methods which often are, without 
doubt, of much practical utility.” 
Allied to this is the suggestion of Mr. E. C. Dray, 
President of the Yorkshire Veterinary Medical Society, 
“ that for the general use of the members the more expensive 
