624 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
the last few years has been great. We are now 
recognized by the Federal Government and by nearly 
all State Governments. We have members of our pro¬ 
fession who hold federal appointments not only at Washing¬ 
ton, but at all the important seaports and also in England. 
Some of the States have veterinarians at the slaughter houses, 
to inspect the cattle before they are killed and the meat after¬ 
wards. A short time ago the Federal Government gave each 
State that had a university $15,000 for the purpose of making 
original investigations in the diseases of animals. 
£§tablisfied a laboratory, and engaged aTnan fdr tFat'^Vpds^, 
the result of which you all are well av^ai^^f. What has Illinois 
done? Nothing. The $15,000 was given the University at 
Champaign and we as veterinarians have a right to demand 
that something be done with that money. 
The success of our meetings lie entirely with the members 
themselves, in the interest they show in attendance and in par¬ 
ticipation in the active duties of the Association^) 
I sincerely hope that with our revised by-laws and new 
code of ethics, new life will be instilled into the members, 
that more interest will be taken in the working of the Asso¬ 
ciation, and I also hope that each member will consider him¬ 
self a committee of one to secure new additions to our mem¬ 
bership, thus increasing our numbers till we have all the 
qualified practitioners in the State within the ranks of the 
Association. 
I would also urge upon you the importance of becoming 
members of the United States Veterinary Medical Association, 
thereby assisting to make that body a truly national one. 
The State Associations can only hope to have a local influence, 
but the United States Veterinary Medical Association is 
bound to wield an influence that will be felt throughout the 
length and breadth of the land. I think it is only a question of 
time when it will be a requisite condition to qualify a man to 
become a member of that body, that he be a member in good 
standing in a State Association. 
(The benefits to be derived from these meetings are manv; 
a man gets an opportunity to gain new ideas; it takes him 
