368 
EDITORIAL. 
veterinarians who are now active, useful members, withdraw 
from the Association and injure it in every practicable way in 
case the proposed amendment prevails ? If there be any such, 
their number and influence should be carefully estimated. 
The influence of such a rule as that proposed upon our 
profession is a question of deep concern, which should in no 
event be passed over lightly. If it will redound to our good 
as a profession, this certainly constitutes our strongest argu¬ 
ment in favor of the rule. If, by excluding from our Asso¬ 
ciation certain classes we are to better our profession as a 
whole, we must understand the reasons for such belief. Could 
we, as an Association, benefit our profession more by exclud¬ 
ing two-year men from our ranks? Would we, by this rule, 
induce more of the better classes to take three-year courses 
of study ? Would the rule increase or decrease the average 
attendance at Veterinary Association meetings; would it in¬ 
crease or decrease the number and quality of our papers and 
reports at meetings ; would it increase or decrease our volume 
and quality of current and standard veterinary literature? 
We should hold definite ideas also as to the duties of our Asso¬ 
ciation toward the veterinary profession, and should deter¬ 
mine whether aspirants for membership should be viewed 
from the standpoint of usefulness of the applicant to the Asso¬ 
ciation, or vice versa. Shall we say that an applicant must be 
capable at the time of teaching members of the Association, 
or shall we only ask that he is capable of learning? The 
latter is the more philanthropic view, and probably the 
correct one. If it be correct, the question then arises 
what amount of special veterinary education is necessary 
before the member or applicant is capable of fully grasping 
the meaning, the truth of scientific papers and discussions? 
Our Association is, or should be, wholly above and beyond 
colleges, and should be prepared to take up. and urge forward 
to higher development every earnest veterinarian capable of 
progress, provided that he is competent to enter advanta¬ 
geously into the work at a proper lower limit. Where is, or 
should be, that limit ? If the average veterinarian from a 
college requiring but two sessions of four and a half to six 
