808 
EDITORIAL. 
the first two installments, presented at the January and Febru¬ 
ary meetings, and consisting of abnormalities, defects, and dis¬ 
eases in and near the buccal cavity. 
That such a discussion by the members of the Chicago So¬ 
ciety must be of absorbing interest to their brethren everywhere 
is self-evident. While theoretical medicine is entrancingly fas¬ 
cinating, nothing so appeals to him who is actively engaged in 
the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery as subjects con¬ 
nected with his every-day duties ; the elucidation of problems 
which perplex him during the routine of his visits ; the points 
of opinion which cause him to wonder if he is less capable of 
arriving at conclusions than others. To bring forward defects 
and diseases and discuss them openly, interchanging deductions 
made by experience and careful study, must be of more service 
than abstract theories deduced from simple reasoning. It is the s 
practical conception of veterinary societies,—the dissemination j 
of knowledge and mutual benefit, and we are firmly of the opin- | 
ion that the example set by the Chicagoans is not a bad one to | 
be followed by all other similar associations, especially those in j 
large cities which meet monthly, such as the Veterinary Medi- i 
cal Association of New York County and the Keystone Associa- | 
tion of Philadelphia. i 
That the Society will fail to achieve the avowed object of I 
the monthly discussions does not affect the good which they will i 
do. That no “ guide ” can be drafted, we are reasonably cer- | 
tain, and that none can be we are thankful. Medicine is an in- ; 
exact science, and this assertion is more applicable to veterinary j 
than human medicine. If the presence of certain defects con¬ 
stituted unsoundness and the absence of certain other ones ful- ; 
filled the requirements of soundness, veterinarians would not be 
the only persons capable of examining horses to determine these i 
points. A horseman of only moderate ability would be able to \ 
perform such services. But the very fact that the determina- t 
tion requires knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology, : 
with ripe experience, makes the opinion of the examiner of j 
- value ; gives scope for individual estimate, based upon the abil- 
