ESTABLISHMENT OF A GENERAL ANNUITY FUND. 9 
object of my desire is to form and establish on a firm basis a Gene- 
ral Annuity Fund, for the payment of annuities to infirm or inca- 
pacitated members of the veterinary profession, their widows and 
orphans. The fund to be open to subscriptions from the legally 
qualified and certificated practitioners of the veterinary profession ; 
and I suggest, as a means of removing the calamities of want in 
cases of infirmity, or in the event of death, that an annual sub- 
scription of one guinea be allowed to accumulate for five years, so 
that a fund may be secured and stability given to the institution. 
Now, trusting to the high aim and usefulness of such a pro- 
vision, I think I shall not over-rate the philanthropy of our profes- 
sional brethren when I calculate on five hundred members quickly 
enrolling their names as members of this provident and self-sup- 
porting fund. At the expiration of the five years we shall find 
our accumulations, including interest, will amount to about £3000. 
Now, with the interest on this capital, and the yearly subscriptions, 
we shall have an available income of £600 a-year. In calculating 
the claims upon this income we may fairly consider them, I think, 
as at three per cent. ; and, admitting that £20 per annum were al- 
lowed to each disabled member, £300 would be consumed; and 
averaging at the same rate widows and orphans, and allowing 
them £15 per annum, £225 would be required. 
We should now have a balance of £75, some of which would 
be required for the payment of an intelligent man as secretary. 
This appointment should be held by some one whose other occu- 
pations rendered him well qualified for the details and calculations 
attendant on his office : other matters of expense must also neces- 
sarily occur. I have no doubt that benefactions would occasion- 
ally arise from the more wealthy, through which the usefulness of 
this fund might be enlarged and its bounty diffused. 
This, then, is the simple outline of my plan ; but I must disclaim 
any merit for originality, as it is already in operation with the 
medical profession. Should it, however, be favourably entertained, 
1 would propose that a meeting be called and a committee formed 
to consider and determine the best preliminary steps to be taken 
for the establishment of an institution of the character 1 have now 
suggested. 
I know there are many assurance companies where men may 
secure provision for their families by a yearly outlay during their 
lives. But this does not meet the difficulty. Few can spare the 
large sums that are annually required for even this object. Amid 
the discouraging vicissitudes of a professional career, and in the 
event of sickness, the professional man derives no benefit from his 
payments, but, on the contrary, is obliged to restrict himself of 
many comforts in order to keep up the payment of sums from 
VOL. XIX. C 
