538 
D. E. SALMON. 
bition leads him to attack the most difficult problems, should 
equally meet with welcome and favor when they bring their 
trophies for the adornment of the organization of which they 
aie members, and which represents the veterinary profession 
of the country. 
In saying this, it is not my purpose to take the ground 
that a paper read before this Association, or the results of the 
investigations of members published elsewhere, should not 
be discussed and criticised. On the contrary, it may be freely 
admitted that it is one of the most important of our privileges 
to discuss such papers, and in so doing to bring out points 
which may have been obscure, or to call attention to conclu¬ 
sions which may be untenable. But the investigator has a 
right to expect in such discussions that this Association is 
gratified at every effort, however humble it may be to pierce 
the mysteries of nature, and that when he brings his results 
before it or when these are introduced by others, he will be 
received with courtesy, and that any criticisms will be fair 
and truthful. 
It is vital to the success of this Association that such ex¬ 
pectations should not meet with disappointment. Our great 
need is that we should have more original investigations— 
that the many peculiar problems which confront us in this 
country should be solved, and that they should be solved, if 
possible, by our own members. 
I hese remarks are made by way of introduction to my 
paper, because this is the first occasion since I have been a 
member of this organization that it has been necessary for 
me to defend my work and my character from unjust as¬ 
saults, made, not in the heat of debate by an individual, but 
with deliberation by one of our most important committees, 
and at a meeting from which I was unavoidably absent. The 
chief points of that report which relate to me I have already 
discussed in an open letter which you have all had an oppor¬ 
tunity to read. (Jour. Comp. Med. and Vet. Arch, and Am. 
Vet. Review, both for January, 1892). In that, however, I 
was unable for want of space to treat with any detail the 
scientific questions involved, and consequently I shall take 
some of these up at this time. 
