M.— AGRICULTURE. 243 



raent, twenty-one years ago established what must be regarded as a fairly 

 large Research Institute, if the size of the population be taken into con- 

 sideration. This Institute, under the brilliant directorship of Sir Arnold 

 Theiler, soon proved to be not a liability but a valuable asset to the 

 country. The results obtained in any one of its various sections would 

 probably have justified the maintenance of the entire Institution. 



At the beginning of this paper it was said that the Dominions and 

 Colonies have played an important part in the recent growth and develop- 

 ment of modern veterinary science. The quality of the research work 

 produced by veterinarians in these countries has been of such high order 

 that it soon placed Veterinary Science (which not many years ago was 

 regarded as the Cinderella of sciences) abreast of the other sciences. As 

 a matter of fact, in South Africa it can be said, without disparagement to 

 any other group of workers, that, in research. Veterinary Science occupies 

 a very high if not the leading position. This has had a wholesome influence 

 on the science itself and on the type of worker who was recruited in its 

 service. The stigma of inferiority which for so long was attached to the 

 veterinarian has disappeared. To-day, Veterinary Science is looked upon 

 as a field of work which offers almost unlimited scope for research and 

 which, in its practical application, may bring untold material benefit to a 

 country. 



Now that the British Association for the Advancement of Science has 

 honoured the Veterinary Profession by calling one of its members to the 

 chair of a Section, the hope may be expressed that, in future, in this 

 august gathering also, Veterinary Science may continue to occupy a place 

 commensurate with its scientific achievements and with the role which it 

 seems destined to play in the development of the British Empire. 



B 



