EDITORIAL. 
109 
EDITORIAL. 
COMPARATIVE PATHOLOGY. 
Ever since we have been engaged in the practice of onr pro¬ 
fession in America and have observed the standard and prospect 
of veterinary art in America, we became convinced that one of 
the most powerful means by which veterinary science could be 
raised from the low rank in which it was held, was through the 
medical profession, and to it we have always looked for friendly 
assistance and help. Personally we have had many proofs that 
we were right, and that every physician in good standing and of 
education was willing to tender the veterinarian the hand of 
friendship and of professional recognition. 
Our impression was founded on the fact that while we were 
merely specialists we considered our specialty as a branch of the 
immense medical sciences included under the title of compara¬ 
tive pathology. 
It is true that the progress has been slow, and probably too 
slow for our earnest anticipations and desire—hut see, at last how 
right we were. 
The serious appearance of pleuro-pneumonia in cattle, the wide 
extent of hog cholera, the prevalence of trichina in hogs, the 
investigations carried and new discoveries made in France on 
anthrax, the presence of glanders and farcy amongst many 
horses in our large cities, the recent publication of the transmis- 
sibility of diphtheria in fowls to other animal species ; all these 
are facts of comparative medicine which the medical man of edu¬ 
cation cannot and does not ignore. And then we see our medical 
papers, the Medical Record of May 3d, the Medical and Surgical 
Reporter of May 17th, giving place in their columns to editorials 
on the subject of comparative pathology. 
These we consider as good omens and signs of the future for 
the veterinary profession. Let our physicians become more 
acquainted with the diseases of animals, let them forget the horse 
doctor, the cow leech, the impostor horse-curer, and recognize the 
