406 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
Sixty plates were placed at the banquet table, and sixty 
persons partook of the feast. The menu was excellent, the 
decorations beautiful. 
On President Huidekoper’s right sat the Hon. J. M. Rusk, 
Secretary of Agriculture, on his left Dr. Parsons, of the 
United States Bureau of Animal Industry, while occupying 
prominent places were ex-Congressman Warner, of Missouri, 
and Mr. Hills, of the Bureau of Printing. After having 
done full justice to the delicacies set before us, President 
Huidekoper, as toast master, after some carefully chosen words, 
which kept members generally in ignorance of whose name 
was to be coupled with the toast to “ The President,” called 
on Dr. Gadsden, who was surprised, but amid a mixture of 
blushes and good humor did ample justice to this loyal toast. 
“ Our Profession ” was ably responded to by Prof. Rob¬ 
ertson, of New York, who lavished unstinted praise upon the 
American veterinary profession and drew especial attention 
to the fact that American veterinarians, with their deficient 
education and short college courses, yet manage through in- 
herent enterprise and adaptability to maintain a high rank 
alongside their colleagues from the long-course colleges of 
other countries. 
“ The Department of Agriculture ” was responded to in a 
happv manner by Drs. Michener and Parsons, of the Bureau 
of Animal Industry. 
The Hon. J. M. Rusk, Secretary of Agriculture, held the 
closest possible attention of all, and elicited frequent and 
hearty applause, while speaking of the mutual interests of 
agriculture and veterinary science, and of the inestimable and 
essential value of our profession to agriculturists when our 
national wealth is threatened by contagious and epizootic 
animal diseases. • 
Ex-Congressman Warner, of Missouri, kept the banqueters 
constantly shifting from laughter to applause while respond¬ 
ing to “The United States Congress.” 
The “ Press” was ably championed by Mr. Hills of Wash¬ 
ington ; “ Our Colleges,” by Dr. Lyford, of Minneapolis, and 
“ The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,” by Dr. 
