ON VETKIUNAKY ASSOCIA TIONS. 
•275 
wards their object. Thus the perfectionment of veterinary science 
—the high and well-merited consideration in which they are held 
who practise it—the true and honest confraternity which binds 
them all together, and, the common object of all, the welfare of 
those who work and of those by whom they are employed—such 
are the results which must necessarily follow from well-organized 
veterinary associations. 
In reference to the above may be perused, with interest, some 
observations uttered by Sir Benjamin Brodie, in his restrospective 
address to the members of the Royal Medico-Chirurgical Society 
at its anniversary meeting. 
If any one were to ask him (Sir Benjamin) what were the ad¬ 
vantages of this society, he should say, first, its library. Secondly, 
whatever brought a number of men, of one profession, into friendly 
intercourse and scientific conversation, would be useful in exciting 
emulation, exercising the intellect, and giving additions to their 
knowledge: it maintained the zeal of the zealous, while it im¬ 
parted a spirit of emulation to those previously without it. Thirdly, 
it removed that distrustful feeling so liable to be engendered in pro¬ 
fessional men not personally acquainted; it gave us a better know¬ 
ledge of ourselves, taught us humility with respect to our own at¬ 
tainments, and a respect for the opinions of others. Among other 
advantages, the publication of transactions might be mentioned. 
No one would doubt but that such publications preserved many re¬ 
searches which would have been otherwise lost to the world, while 
they also excited individuals to contribute to the common stock. 
It would not be well to institute comparisons between the trans¬ 
actions of that and other societies : posterity would give them a 
place neither higher nor lower than they deserved. This much, 
however, he thought they might anticipate,—that whoever, in future, 
might read the transactions of that society, would feel that there 
had existed many members of the profession who had not made 
their calling a trade, but a science; and also that, if the profession 
were not dealt with practically, it was neither interesting nor 
useful. 
The latter part of Sir Benjamin’s address related to our late 
Professor, Coleman, who, it appears, was a member of the society. 
