VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
209 
be calculated. We would therefore entreat every veterinarian 
to take the matter into his serious consideration, . and, even at 
some inconvenience, attend the proposed meeting. 
Veterinary practitioners should be brought more together. 
In the present state of our art, doubtful of the soundness of 
some of our principles, and feeling, if we would honestly confess 
the truth, that many important points of practic^e are yet enve¬ 
loped in mystery, we carry a bold face to the world, but we are 
afraid and jealous of each other, and our professional inter¬ 
course is occasionally characterized by a reserve, and selfish¬ 
ness, and illiberality, perhaps something even worse than these, 
and which reflect on us no credit. 
When we have been accustomed to meet together, and to 
unite in the work of mutual improvement, we shall have a more 
kindly feeling towards each other, and be compelled, as well as 
disposed to act with candour and with honour. 
We shall likewise measure each other’s strength. We shall 
find out of what oUr profession is composed. We shall disco¬ 
ver the peculiarities of each other’s tact and skill. We shall 
know where to have recourse in cases of perplexity; and we 
shall know where to look for the competent instructor, when 
advanced age or premature death may have taken from us the 
present heads of our profession. Some of us, perhaps, may ' 
have been undervalued, unknown. Others may have held their 
heads a vast deal too high. A society like this will place each 
man on his proper level, and the art and the public will reap 
the benefit. 
The object of the society is well stated the advancement 
and diffusion of veterinary knowledge,” and of this, we trust, 
the members will never lose sight. Their meetings ought never 
to be the arena on which angry and malicious spirits contend. 
The debates of the society should never be perverted to the 
gratification of secret pique or dastardly revenge. No personal 
invective, no attack on private feelings, should be permitted to 
destroy its respectability, pleasure, and utility. ' The free, fair 
VoL. I.—No. 6. 2 a 
