NORTH OF ENGLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 267 
the various contagious diseases specified in the Act of 1869, the 
laws by which they are governed, the manner in which they are 
propagated, and, in fact, to thoroughly fit and prepare ourselves for 
the duties of inspectors, and so convince stock-owners and the public 
that we, and we only, are qualified to hold that office. 
I would also draw your attention to the leading article in this 
month’s Veterinarian , on “ Inoculation as a Prevention of Conta- 
gious Pleuro-pneumonia of Cattle.” This subject has been re- 
vived again, and as it is a most important one to stock-owners, we 
ought if possible to be in a position to give a definite opinion as to 
its efficacy. A few years ago a great deal was said and written 
about this same inoculation, and I for one certainly came to the con- 
clusion that it was useless as a preventive in long disease, and that 
proper sanitary measures are more to be relied upon. However, as 
experiments are to be made upon a large scale, we may be favoured 
with a little more light on the matter. 
Horseshoeing has been brought very prominently before the 
public during the past year, and valuable prizes are offered by the 
“Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” for 
the best essay on the subject. One or two patents for horseshoes 
have been taken out and very well puffed, but as for any of the 
advantages they profess to have, and the immunity from disease 
which they pretend to confer on horses’ feet, it is, in my opinion, 
all moonshine. 
There is one shoe, “ the Charlier,” which is said to be a real 
improvement, and has answered admirably wherever it has been 
properly applied. Not having practically tested it, I cannot speak 
from experience ; my own opinion is that horseshoeing is a more 
simple matter than those who write upon it would lead us to 
believe ; in fact, I look upon it very much as a matter of £ s. d., 
as in every large town, at any rate, a gentleman can get his horse 
well shod, provided he is willing to pay for it, but so long as the 
owners of horses patronise the cheap shoeing, and trust entirely to 
their grooms instead of the veterinary surgeon, so long will they 
have their horses badly shod and have them lame in consequence. 
Veterinary education has been so often before you, and so freely 
discussed, and is now in such able hands, that I will pass it over ; 
and though there are other matters of importance that I might 
notice, I will not further detain you, but hasten to conclude. 
Before doing so allow me to notice the great loss that the veterinary 
profession has sustained in the sudden and unexpected death of 
Mr. John Lawson, of Manchester. I had not the honour of know- 
ing him personally, but you are aware that he was one of the truly 
noble amongst us, and that his constant endeavours was to advance 
the interests of the veterinary profession ; but alas ! he was cut down 
in the day of his prosperity ; another example of the uncertainty 
of human life, and a solemn warning to all of us : “ be ye also 
ready,” for we know not the day nor the hour when we shall be 
summoned hence. 
A single word on the prospects of this society. Our October 
