96 
EDITORIAL. 
functionary to propound laws to be presented to the legislators 
for enactment, and, with few exceptions, wherever they have 
done so in that spirit of earnestness which characterizes the 
majority of them they have been successful. Where there are 
among the membership a few men who make it their business 
to lead such movements, giving time, energy and activity to it, 
spurring the others on and forcing enthusiasm by personal pre¬ 
cept—backed by a determination to succeed—failure has rarely 
been the sequel. Where, however, the extent of the energy 
consists in preambles and resolutions, letters in lofty patriotic 
style, and bills which once introduced reach the committee-room 
and there remain under the hypnotic influence of a lack of en¬ 
ergy in the profession to arouse it by the righteous demands of 
its members, there can scarcely be any other result than failure. 
The example set by the State Association of Virginia, as de¬ 
scribed in the April Review, is worthy the consideration of all 
veterinarians in the States having in contemplation the intro¬ 
duction of bills looking to the fostering of veterinary interests. 
If the reader can point to a field presenting less promising re¬ 
wards than the State referred to he will have to go beyond the 
limits of the Union ; and yet their energetic State Association 
not only forced their protecting laws through the Senate and 
House of Delegates, and had another bill passed establishing 
quarantine lines, rules and regulations, and prescribing penalties 
for the violation of the same, but they are now getting ready for 
dairy inspections, and when this is accomplished will be seeking 
new methods of benefitting the public and themselves. 
It would scarcely seem within the pale of possibility that 
there could be one of the great States of the West still groping 
along without a law on her statute-books to indicate that the 
profession of veterinary medicine existed within her borders. 
Much less would one conceive the idea that, if such instances 
really exist, that the great State of Illinois would be found 
among that class. With her vast live-stock interests, with her 
great cities, her army of graduated veterinarians, it is incredible 
that such a condition maintains. Inexplicable as it may seem, 
