EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
231 
tions, opinions, habits and manners of the profession, more 
than any other single agency. In consultations two or three 
might meet, in societies medical men might gather by hun¬ 
dreds, but in the press alone could they all, as it were, stand 
face to face, and enjoy the privilege of an exchange of 
thought. It alone could deal with the thousands of the 
profession as with one man. Some might deplore that ephe¬ 
meral writings tend to displace the solid tomes which were 
produced when the periodical press did not exist, but they 
must accept the age as they find it, and on the universal 
diffusion of the products of thought, the incessant collision 
of thousands of minds busied with the same subjects, more 
truth and progress are elicited than were ever produced by 
solitar}^ members/” 
And may we not be permitted to add to this, that there 
are names in connection with the medical press from among 
ourselves whose literary efforts have not only not dis¬ 
graced our art, but, on the contrary, have tended much to 
its advancement; and, in fact, have given to it both an 
impetus, and a locus standi it would not have possessed 
without them ? It is true, too true, that these labours are 
by many thought slightingly of, and by some even, perhaps, 
contemned ; yet this detracts not from their real worth or 
importance. In the end their worth will be seen, and duly 
appreciated and acknowledged. 
Sincerely do we hail the multiplied efforts that are being 
made freely to disseminate knowledge, being convinced that 
exclusiveness becomes not men of science, and secresy is 
worthy only of the charlatan, who is always bold and pre¬ 
suming because he has nothing to lose, while by him a 
principle never yet was developed, and never will be. He 
works not to accomplish it. His aims are purely selfish. 
This is the little circle by which all his desires are inclosed, 
and here his thoughts and wishes centre. Such conduct is 
altogether unworthy of a professional man, who should ever 
be actuated by higher and nobler motives,—motives con¬ 
ducive to the general good of his fellows, and the ameliora¬ 
tion of the sufferings of those animals that are placed lower 
in the scale of existence than he is; since this latter con¬ 
stitutes his particular domain. 
