116 WEST OF SCOTLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
After the discussion, the members adjourned to the Dining 
Hall. 
Owing to the indisposition of Mr. Cockburn, Mr. Alexander 
Robinson was called to the chair. 
The cloth having been removed, the Chairman expressed his 
sense of the great honour they had conferred upon him in 
putting him in the position he then occupied, and his extreme 
sorrow for the indisposition of their worthy president, Mr. 
Cockburn, who certainly would have done the duties of the 
chair much more to their satisfaction than he could do. He 
was sure that that gentleman had the sympathy of all present. 
After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been given, 
he said: “ The next toast handed to me is, ‘ The West, of 
Scotland Veterinary Medical Association/ This toast is 
w'orthy of some previous reflection, which I am sorry I have 
not had an opportunity of giving it. The Society has been 
got up by the unwearied exertions of Mr. W. Anderson, 
with the support of a few 1 others. That gentleman, however, 
spared neither time nor expense in the promotion of it. He 
always held forth the argument of once obtaining a meeting, 
and that then there would be no fear of getting the society 
formed; and now, since it has reached its present position, it 
only remains with us to give it our every support, so as to 
keep it together in good working order. I think that most 
of us have already found great benefit and pleasure in at¬ 
tending its meetings, and 1 am proud to say that we have 
had precedence voluntarily given to us in the pages of the 
Veterinarian , by our contemporaries in the great metropolis; 
and since we have attained this, let us be united in keeping 
it; and I trust that no veterinary surgeon in the West of 
Scotland, who seeks success and reputation, or has at heart 
the interests of his profession, will keep back from adding 
his mite to the furtherance of the object contemplated by the 
Society 
“ The Societ}^ is certainly a step in the right direction. It 
opens up for us a beautiful field of research and improve¬ 
ment, and it will unquestionably be the means of extending 
our usefulness, and of enhancing our pecuniary interests; 
while it will also tend much to improve the general condition 
of the lower animals, as well as the status of our profession, the 
interest of the agriculturist, and the prosperity of the com¬ 
munity at large. 
“Much could be said of the advantages likely to accrue 
from our attendance at its meetings; in fact, more than I 
am able to say. They afford the means of communicating to 
each other any cases of importance or interest that may have 
