688 PUNCTURING AND EXERCISE FOR PURPURA HEMORRHAGICA. 
ings and giving the patient exercise was condemned by 
several members as objectionable, condemned, as it ap¬ 
peared to me at the time, on insufficient grounds, if not in 
the absence of any ground whatever. Several cases were 
related where extensive and deep sloughing, had taken 
place in cases where no puncturing had been resorted to. 
It has been my good fortune to have listened to several very 
interesting papers read on this disease and discussed at 
the Midland and other veterinary medical associations, and I 
have listened to the views propounded by gentlemen who 
differed from me at the time, but whose opinions, never¬ 
theless, always demand the greatest attention. I have 
endeavoured most earnestly to gain whatever knowledge 
I could on each and every occasion, and I fully admit 
that I have often gained information which has been of 
great benefit to me in practice. It has been my custom 
to receive facts or any new method of treatment which 
seemed to possess within itself sound principles, especially 
if the results of that treatment showed a percentage of 
recoveries exceeding those of my own. It is at these meetings 
a man finds his level; any fad or hobby he may have is 
examined, exposed, and exploded. It was quite immaterial 
to me whether the new views w T ere advanced by a very 
intelligent young practitioner, or by one who had been a close 
observer for a long series of years; even the best methods 
of the shrewd non-qualified man have not been repugnant 
to me. I have always felt a sincere thankfulness for such 
information; but when I listen to opinions expressed by an 
intelligent and close observer, one who does his own think¬ 
ing, one who has borne the heat and burden of the day 
during a long life in the daily practice of his profession, I 
feel I am specially bound to respect and honour those 
opinions, even though they may be new to me, and at 
first do not commend themselves to my mind, or im¬ 
press me very favorably; nay, they may not seem strictly in 
accordance with scientific principles, still I feel they must 
have something of worth in them or they would not be 
uttered by such a man, for do we not find practical experience 
simply to be the proving of different methods, those methods 
which are not successful when fairly tried are cast aside, and 
those which are successful are retained. It is thus facts are 
accumulated in our individual life, but prejudice always 
hinders the reception of truth. There are those who seem not 
to be cognizant, or else they are unbelievers in these truths ; 
they condemn and deride all methods of treatment of which 
they know nothing. Prejudices have yet to be overcome, and 
