EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
597 
Mr. Williams is not right when he says, “ If the different 
societies were to adopt your suggestions, they would have 
to expel a considerable number of gentlemen who enjoy, 
and deservedly so, good positions in society, and who are 
recognised as scientific veterinarians.” We took care to 
especially guard against such an inference as this, by stating 
that “laws are not retrospective.” Our object, in fact, has 
been to induce all to unite in a more intimate bond of union, 
and thus to ensure co-operation. We do not forget our 
motto, “Vis unita fortior,” and, moreover, we dislike the 
Machiavelian policy of “Divide et impera/’ We rejoice to 
know that the position the members of our profession are 
enabled now to take is very different compared with what 
it once was, and we shall ever labour to promote their still 
higher elevation. Without controversy, the state of a pro¬ 
fession is what its individual members make it, and it is 
pleasing to have to place on record contributions that do 
honour to their authors, and show minds actuated by like 
motives with our own. We still hope to see some plan de¬ 
vised by which distinctions will be lost among those who 
have been duly educated at the different recognised schools. 
Their abilities having been tested, why should they not be¬ 
come members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons ? 
THE MEETING AT NEWCASTLE OE THE ROYAL 
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
In accordance with established custom, we publish this 
month the award of the prizes of the Royal Agricultural 
Society at its meeting at Newcastle. Speaking in general 
terms, this annual gathering may be said to have been one 
of the most successful which has ever taken place. 
In a pecuniary point of view it ranks as the third best, 
being only surpassed by Leeds and Battersea. The sum 
received for the admission of visitors amounted in the aggre¬ 
gate to £8045 12s. 6(/., which it is hoped may leave a 
