EDITORIAL. 
175 
EDITORIAL. 
EMPIRICISM’S DEATH-BLOW. 
The quiet observer who may for years back have watched 
the progress of veterinary science in the United States, could 
use no better proverb than “ Slow but sure,” in noticing the ad¬ 
vance which the science has slowly but steadily made in the last 
few years. Indeed, there has been scarcely a space of twelve 
months without some steps forward being made. 
But a few years ago we had but one veterinary school; now 
a number of them are in running order. But a short time since 
there was only one veterinary journal ; now there are three. 
Little gatherings of veterinarians, pompously calling themselves 
societies or associations, were now and then met with. In our 
day we have organized societies, with charters, constitutions and 
by-laws. And now there is another feature in recent progressive 
action : that is, the formation of State Veterinary Conventions. 
Illinois, which first created the position of State Veterinarian, 
has again been the leader, in calling her practitioners together to 
a State Convention. She has done so, and so far as the news 
reach us, incomplete as they are, the affair has been a success. 
So much so, in fact, that we find the example is likely to be fol¬ 
lowed by other States. Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and 
perhaps more of the Western States are inviting their veterina¬ 
rians to meet to organize and discuss the subject of the advance 
of veterinary science. 
This great move cannot be ignored ; and it is to be hoped that 
the West shall not remain alone in it. The Eastern States ought 
to act also-at once; they ought also to call their veterinarians to¬ 
gether; they ought to form their State Associations; and when 
once each State in the Union has her State Veterinary Medical 
Association, how easy it will be for all to unite under a grand 
body, the American Veterinary Association. 
And what will be the true end and meaning of these gather¬ 
ings, of these conventions, of those great State Associations, and 
of this grand National Veterinary Society ? It will mean death 
to empiricism, to the ignorant practice of our profession. 
