274 
ON VETKRINARY ASSOCIATIONS. 
the well-being of the animal, each of these things will afford a 
powerful incentive to emulation, a stimulus to exertion, and a 
determination to contribute all that is in our power to elevate the 
veterinary profession, and to enable others to comprehend the high 
importance of the mission which is entrusted to us. 
When a man is isolated in a country, without any other induce¬ 
ment to exertion than the desire of accumulating a certain quantum 
of property, that will soon become his governing principle, and 
every effort will be made to increase of his practice, for on that 
will chiefly depend the accomplishment of his object. All intel¬ 
lectual labour and scientific acquirements will be only secondary 
in his estimation, and will be neglected and despised, or, at least, 
they will bear no comparison with the pursuit of pecuniary emolu¬ 
ment. 
Suppose, on the contrary, that he becomes a member of some 
veterinary society, where it is his duty to communicate to his 
brethren every new idea which he may have formed, and at the 
same time is enlightened by their increasing knowledge, in which, 
in his turn, he must mingle in some scientific discussion, or read 
some well-digested essay—see now the change which takes place 
in him; formerly he was entirely passive—he received the light 
which fell upon him, but he reflected none in his turn. Now he 
becomes studious and active—he puts to the proof the principles 
of his art—he furnishes those around him with the Tesults at which 
he has arrived, and he acquires the habit of working and of thinking. 
In this way his comprehension necessarily enlarges—the occupa¬ 
tions which he prefers are those of his profession, and he avoids 
many a rock on which others are shipwrecked. 
But this is not all. In these periodical meetings the members 
of the society begin reciprocally to appreciate each other—the 
bonds of confraternity are no longer strained—they are, too, in 
common society a fiction. The narrow spirit of jealousy, which too 
often actuates the men who practise the same profession in the 
same neighbourhood, without any friendly intercourse with each 
other, vanishes before the real appreciation which each is enabled 
to form of his neighbour; and without impeding, or injuring, or 
wishing ill towards each other, they all can pursue their course to- 
