158 
M. BUNKER. 
Its mission is a noble one, and one to which every member 
should be loyal in heart, faithful in service, and honest in ser¬ 
vice. There is for the veterinarian of to-day a field full of op¬ 
portunities, full of chances for distinction, and last, but not 
least, a remuneration for his time, perhaps not always a princely 
sum, but yet one which will at least keep the wolf from 
the door. There may not always be stirring times for the in¬ 
vestigator or specialist, but as “ the still sow drinks the swill,” 
so will the quiet but earnest worker earn the laurels when the 
time for action comes. 
A little more than thirty years ago, a Massachusetts prac¬ 
titioner prior to sailing from England for home, purchased one 
or more text books to read and study during the voyage. 
One of these books had some wood engravings of the patho¬ 
logical appearances of various diseases, which were studied 
with much interest. Upon his arrival home, his practice was 
again taken up and the books for the time laid one side. He 
had not been many nionths at home before he was called to 
see a new form of disease which had broken out among our 
herds. On visiting the herd, a diagnosis, different from his 
most intimate friend’s; was made, and which was disbelieved 
both by the veterinary profession and the human school, to 
say nothing of comments and criticism by the press and laity, 
in 1859, before the Legislature. In spite of all these sources 
of opposition and lack of support in his opinion, Dr. Thayer 
kept steadily at work until he had convinced the people of 
Massachusetts that they had indeed in their herds that scourge 
of the bovine race, contagious pleura pneumonia. Firm in his 
opinion, persistent and untiring in his work, he finally received 
from his brother practitioners support and co-operation. Then 
the human school and laity came over, and with them the leg¬ 
islative machine, and then the work of stamping out went on 
until there was not a case within the borders of the State. 
And all this had been done at a cost of about $65,000. 
I have mentioned this case thus fully for no purpose of eu- 
logium upon Dr. Thayer, for he needs none, his work stands 
ever in view of such, but simply as an example to present to 
this Society, to show them that whenever there comes a time 
