118 WEST OF SCOTLAND \ ETERI N ARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
of the professors and alumini of the various veterinary insti¬ 
tutions, without being struck, and that forcibly too, with the 
depth of penetration and zeal in quest of knowledge. 
<f The value of veterinary institutions requires no comment, 
and although as yet veterinary science lacks that status in 
public estimation which is awarded to its sister science, the 
medical, still it must be apparent to you all that the day is 
not far distant when, to say the least, their equality shall 
more nearly approximate. 
“ The day was when the self-dubbed veterinary surgeon was 
deemed fit company only for the horsekeeper, but the day 
now is when the veterinary surgeon is fit company for any 
gentleman, be he medical, legal, mercantile, or otherwise. 
And to what influence, or combination of influences, are we 
to attribute this? Why solely to education and the college 
tuition of the veterinary institutions I here so imperfectly 
represent. 
ee Regarding the differences which at present exist betwixt 
‘ the powers that behad this point not been touched upon, 
I would have passed the matter over in silence, but this I 
now cannot do. I am, however, neither inclined nor pre¬ 
pared to say at whose door the burden of these differences 
should be laid, and perhaps it might be as well to say that 
there are faults on all sides. But let this be as it mav, one 
thing I hold is self-evident, that without one great recognised 
head, around which we can all rally, we are likely to split, 
and thus injure the cause whose advancement and promulga¬ 
tion I am certain w T e have all at heart. 
Let us hope, then, that the day is not far distant when 
this head shall be universally admitted, and when the col¬ 
leges which at present, or which may hereafter exist, shall be 
bound to obey the laws, and submit to the decisions awarded. 
And now, gentlemen, in conclusion, accept my thanks for 
the great honour you have conferred on me by linking my 
name with the veterinary institutions of this and other coun¬ 
tries, and for the enthusiastic manner in which you have 
drunk my health.” 
Mr. W. Anderson then rose and said, “ I have a toast to pro¬ 
pose, and it is one I feel confident you will all give a hearty 
response to. It is the health of our president, Mr. Cockburn. 
I am sorry that he w as obliged to leave us so early, from ill 
health. I assure you, gentlemen, his coming to Glasgow 
gave me great pleasure. I had heard much said respecting 
his character and gentlemanly manners before his coming, 
and l am proud to say that my experience of him, profes¬ 
sionally and socially, has proved him to be deserving of that 
good name.” 
