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THE VETERINARIAN, JUNE 1, 1871. 
Ne quid falsi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat. — C icero. 
THE ANNUAL MEETING OE THE MEMBERS OF THE VETE- 
RINARY PROFESSION. 
It is certainly a significant fact that not more than about 
four out of every hundred of the veterinary surgeons prac- 
tising in various parts of the country can be induced to 
contribute the influence of their presence to the only meeting 
which takes place in the course of the year, at which the 
proceedings of the elected representatives of the profession 
can be fairly discussed, and condemned or approved as they 
may seem to deserve. 
The reason of this want of interest is not easily discovered ; 
distance can have little to do with the non-attendance of 
members, because many come from afar while many who are 
near stay away. Urgency of occupation would be a satisfactory 
plea, hut unfortunately for its force we are conscious of the 
fact that some of the practitioners most actively engaged are 
regular in attendance ; and, . besides, the same excuse of 
existing engagements is not urged when meetings of less 
professional importance distract the attention. There is, in 
short, no ready escape from the conviction that a prevalent 
apathy is the true cause of the meagre attendance at our 
annual meetings. Politically we have no locus standi , and 
we do not care to assert our right to claim one ; there is enough 
in the daily routine of practice to occupy the time, and the 
question of the progress of the profession in science and social 
character is too abstract in its nature to attract the interested 
attention of the busy or of the indifferent man ; hence we go 
on year after year in the old rut ; meeting, discussing a few 
points of more or less insignificance in the report of the pro- 
ceedings of Council, re-electing members of Council who go 
out by rotation, and then dining together in honour of these 
moderate achievements. It may not be possible under 
the circumstances to do more ; but it must also be admitted 
that it would be difficult to do less, and if the duties we have 
