GENERAL ANNUITY FUND. 
153 
tary, whom the members of the profession could correspond with, 
and transmit their names and addresses to for enrolment : that will 
bring the thing to the test. Messrs. Editors, we cannot pass you 
without at least one observation — we imply no censure, only a 
gentle hint, en passant — that, in your two last Leaders, no notice 
whatever was taken of the Annuity Fund, which certainly disap- 
pointed not a few, to my knowledge. Nunc aut nunquam. 
I am, &c. 
James Anderson. 
Leicester, 
14th Feb. 1846. 
To the Editors of “ The Veterinarian.” 
Gentlemen, — I n the Number for January, Mr. G. Baker makes 
a proposal to establish a “ General Annuity Fund” for the benefit 
of decayed members of the veterinary profession, their widows and 
orphans. The kindness and good feeling of such a proposal shew 
it to be one that certainly ought not to remain unaccomplished. 
The plan is both simple and feasible; it only requires union 
amongst the members of the profession to be carried out; and 
if the call is not responded to, low, indeed, must be ranked the 
philanthropy and union of the veterinary profession at large. 
That a body now numbering more than a thousand members 
should have existed as a recognized profession for upwards of half 
a century without having long since acted upon a plan so plain and 
philanthropic does not say much for the unity or thoughtfulness 
of such body : it is, however, too painfully true to be commented 
on ; for while every profession and calling has been carrying out 
such plans, the members of our poor devoted art have been look- 
ing quiescently on, without any effort to bring themselves together 
for any useful purpose. Not even so much as a society has been 
formed in which we, as a body, could or can meet on neutral kindly 
ground ; but bickerings and animosity have been the only end of all 
and every attempt towards union. The records of the last fifty 
years painfully shew that every man’s hand has been against his 
fellow ; and even the last gain, that of “ The Charter,” which has 
raised the status of the profession to a higher level, has been 
made a means for further and more bitter disunion : let us, however, 
hope that the good feeling which ought to exist will be displayed ; 
and were such feelings but once fairly and firmly shewn by the 
VOL, XIX. Y 
