I 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 299 
little, step by step we have increased our membership, become influential out¬ 
side of the profession as well as in it, commanding the respect of the public and 
official bodies of the State until the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association 
has grown from its infancy, and passed through the struggles of its first years, 
through the combined efforts of a determined few who saw its needs and useful¬ 
ness in future years and who—let me add—have stood fast to her helm ever 
since, and now we have a regularly chartered and incorporated Association' 
composed of a body of men who are determined to still further advance the 
profession in our State, and at the same time are ever ready to protect stock 
owners from losses through contagious and infectious diseases, and only ask the 
confidence of the public that they may also be the means of protecting the human 
family from the transmission of such diseases from animal to man. 
There have been many very interesting papers read and much benefit 
derived from their discuss : on. Interesting and instructive cases have been 
freely quoted by all. Much has been accomplished and last, but by no means 
least, the tie of fraternal fellowship has been still further strengthened, and it is 
the earnest wish of your humble servant that nothing will ever disturb it. 
We may have our little differences outside, but no matter, let us go on in the 
future as we have during the past. 
Our financial standing is good and we are every way in a flourishing con¬ 
dition. We have a committee on contagious and infectious diseases who have 
accomplished good work during the past winter. 
No doubt you have all read their report as published by the State Board of 
Health. It is a correct version of the condition existing in our State on such 
diseases, and a step in the right direction. 
The committee are to be congratulated on this good work, and I know have 
the thanks of every member of this profession at home and abroad, not speaking 
of the thanks due them from the many loving mothers and fathers who are 
many times using milk from diseased cows. If you have not done so I would 
suggest that the report be struck off in pamphlet form and well distributed 
throughout the State. 
I hope this committee will be continued, and if the political muddle ever 
clears up let them draft a good strong bill. 
If on tuberculosis, I am in favor of inspection of all herds of dairy cattle, 
compelling the farmers to report all cases in their herds accompanied by a certi¬ 
ficate of the attending veterinarian. Any neglect on his part to carry out the 
law to be amenable to punishment. 
I would have a fine imposed on any veterinarian who refused to grant such 
a certificate or fail to report any contagious disease, of whatever nature, brought 
to his notice. The question of indemnity to owners of diseased stock has often 
been discussed in different States, and it seems to be the opinion of many that 
a glandered horse is not worth anything anyway. I do not think that should 
be so. Why should a glandered horse be a dead loss in a State where this 
loathsome disease has been allowed to run rife for many years ? In my opinion 
if this State would pay something, no matter how small, that in one year, or two 
at the outside, with proper laws and proper enforcement the disease would be 
entirely stamped out. 
