WEST OF SCOTLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 985 
prevail on the reigning Government to introduce some satisfac- 
tory remedial measure. 
"War is an old institution, in fact it is one of the oldest on 
record, and much as every one must dislike and detest it, the 
late aspect of affairs on the Continent proves that war is a 
custom which will not die out in a day. 
As a nation we are rich enough to be worth robbing, prosperous 
enough to excite envy, and we ought to be strong enough to 
make ourselves respected among the civilised nations of the 
world. (Applause.) That strength lies in your army and 
j our navy. You grumble now and then over the four or five 
and twenty millions a year which those services cost, but every 
military man has maintained that it was the reverse of eco- 
nomy not to keep our war departments in an efficient and healthy 
condition. 
I have to thank Mr. Pottie for the eulogia he has passed on 
my character, and I hope that I shall be able to retain the reputa- 
tion he has so publicly given me as your Secretary during my 
term of office. 
The Chairman then gave the toast, “ Success to the West of 
Scotland Veterinary Medical Association.” In his speech he re- 
marked that the association had now existed for more than ten 
years, and that before that period no society of the kind was in 
Scotland, nor in England either ; that Glasgow had taken the 
lead in this respect, and that they were able to congratulate 
themselves that in almost every great city in Britain there is a 
veterinary association. It is well that this should be so. We 
know that union is strength, and that the conjoint efforts of the 
profession may, if directed to right purpose, work a reformation. 
Single individuals may cry out as they like; they were never heard, 
for they wanted unity. What we ought, therefore, still further to 
seek is union amongst the members of the profession. 1 am glad 
to say that our association in Glasgow has taken the initiative in 
this regard in the west of Scotland. (Hear, hear.) But besides 
being of advantage to us collectively, a society of this kind is of 
utility to us individually. We all know that there are difficulties 
in our way with regard to practice. None of us are in practice 
for any length of time, without encountering difficulties either in 
the way of a legal dispute or in connection with our cases. Now 
there is nothing (the Chairman said) that I know that gives more 
encouragement than to obtain the advice of the fathers of our 
profession. That is to be secured principally by our meetings in 
such an association as this. Begular discussions tend to stimulate 
inquiry, and this is all the more necessary from the fact that as 
practitioners we are often inclined to believe that when we leave 
our college, the scientific parts of our profession should almost be 
set aside. We do consult our Veterinarian ; but as to our class 
books, they are, I am afraid, seldom referred to. I am glad to 
say that discussions with this object in view have regularly taken 
place at our meetings. The attendance, of course, has not been 
