EDITORIAL. 
685 
tistics upon Schmidt’s treatment for parturient paresis, at the 
earnest solicitation of Secretary Stewart and the Review, who 
hoped that with such a representative gathering of men from all 
parts of the Union, a true and comprehensive idea of the value 
of the much-discussed method might be arrived at. All that 
was secured was the publication in the “ Proceedings ” of the 
results of the doctor’s correspondence with a number of veterina¬ 
rians who had been employing it. The doctor is too faithful an 
associationist not to accept his lot in good part and to see that 
his name is placed higher on the programme next time; but 
there are some men of a different temperament who could be¬ 
come sullen and refuse to make any further attempt of a like 
kind. 
But, the question again arises : Can the Association afford 
to abandon the surgical clinics ? Many believe that they are 
of more real benefit than the didactic lectures, for, while the 
latter can be contributed to the current literature of the profes¬ 
sion, no amount of descriptive writing can supplant the ocular 
demonstration of a surgical procedure ; that they attract the 
members to the meetings, and are of certain benefit to those who 
are engaged in every-day practice ; that new and delicate oper¬ 
ations by men of reputation are the acme of associational value, 
and should not be omitted for any other part of the programme. 
We confess that we appreciate these clinics thoroughly, and 
should be sorry to see them dropped at our meetings. 
And the pathological exhibit ? Having the grandest oppor¬ 
tunity to acquire such a wonderful display of diseased organs 
and tissues through the inspectors of the Bureau of Animal In¬ 
dustry from all the great central abattoirs of the West, who will 
say that the Association cannot spare the few hours to witness 
such a collection, which has taken the collectors months to gather 
and carefully preserve? 
No, nothing can be omitted ; more time must be gained ; 
and the only solution of the problem consists in night sessions 
for the reading and discussion of papers, whether they be upon 
subjects of State medicine or routine practice. It is a question 
