316 TIiA^-sACTIo^'s of the American Institute. 



Gentlemen of the Farmers' Club. — For tlie sake of the conntry I 

 hope the sudden appearance of a fatal form of disease among cattle 

 may be received as a warning not to Lc overlooked with impunity. . 

 Exemption from disease heretofore is no security for the future. It 

 is the duty of every man not only to provide for his immediate 

 necessities, but for his future wants ; indeed, every good citizen is in 

 duty bound to guard the public interest, both present and prospec- 

 tive. The active exertions of tlie inspectors of the board of healtli 

 in seeking to prevent the spread' of cattle disease were highly com- 

 mendable. Still, had the disease reached the farming districts, there 

 is not in the board a single veterinary pathologist who could advise 

 3''ou how to treat the disease. A large sh.are of credit is due to the 

 governors of the States for their prompt action in excluding all dis- 

 eased animals and placing proper restrictions on their removal. As 

 experience has proved that medical treatment is of little avail in 

 affections of this kind, I trust the impending danger may l)e the 

 means of causing you to reflect on the exposed condition of stock- 

 raisers, dairymen, and agriculturists. Ask yourselves if this disease, 

 or any other dangerous epidemic should suddenly appear, are we pre- 

 pared to meet it ? Have we well educated veterinary surgeons 

 e lough for the requirements of the country ? or have we any at all ? 

 In my humble opinion tlie time has arrived, not only to think, but to 

 act. England failed to heed the warnings of her veterinarians when 

 the rinderpest raged on the continent. Yeterinary surgeons were looked 

 upon as alarmists* and almost deserving of expatriation. The sudden 

 appearance of the plague opened their eyes to the reality of the thing. 

 In their fright and excitement they appealed to the medical profession 

 for help, only to learn, after a month's inactivity and the loss of 

 300,000 to 400,000 liead of cattle and £40,000 spent in useless experi- 

 ments on the bovine race, that human physicians were incompetent 

 to treat or manage the diseases of cattle. There is no better stimulus 

 to make a man exert himself, both mentally and physically, than to 

 deprive him of his daily food or the contents of his pjurse ; it sets him 

 to thinking', it was the sober second thought that saved England her 

 roast beef. Finding the medical profession ignorant and incompetent 

 to treat the cattle malady (however competent to treat themselves), 

 they appealed to the Privy Council to obtain for them the services of 

 the veterinary profession to aid and advise them how to save their 

 cattle. The government complied with their appeal, and appointed 

 200 or 300 members of the Hoyal College of Yeterinary Surgeons as 



