684 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
Our efforts in this direction will be productive of much good to the masses, 
for when the people thoroughly understand how many of the diseases of the hu¬ 
man family may be prevented by proper sanitary precautions, they will demand 
competent inspection of all food before it is placed upon the market. 
THE PROFESSION. 
It is with great pleasure that we note the formation of a Western Iowa Vet¬ 
erinary Medical Association ; and most earnestly do we recommend the forma¬ 
tion of district associations in other parts of the State, this being the most ef¬ 
fectual factor to promote fraternal fellowship and professional culture, at the 
same time establishing a bond of sympathy with our sister profession, thus en¬ 
hancing to a great extent the usefulness and value of both branches of medical 
science. 
As a profession we have many serious responsibilities to assume, and num¬ 
erous obstacles to overcome. 
For many years past the practice of veterinary science has been confined 
almost entirely to a class of persons having little or no education and but few 
ideas or ambitions beyond those of the ordinary stable element; on account of 
this it can well be understood how public sentiment refused to grant the same 
prestige to the veterinarian (?) of earlier days as it did to members of other 
professions. 
During later years these conditions have been very materially changed, and 
the cloud of social and professional illiteracy enveloping veterinary science has 
been gradually but surely passing; until to-day we stand before the world a 
body of professional scientists ready and willing to assume all the responsibili¬ 
ties rightfully belonging to the domain of veterinary science, and demanding 
that society acknowledge our eligibility to meet within her halls and mingle on 
terms of equality with members of other reputable professions. 
Both branches of medical science are to-day fairly launched upon the sea of 
investigation, striving to unravel the labyrinth of obscure and oftentimes mys¬ 
terious causations of disease. 
Many are the perplexities and disappointments which are encountered; and 
many the schismatic storms, which by their tempestuous blasts of jealousy, 
threaten to capsize and engulf this venturesome barque, bound on its perilous 
voyage of discovery ; but nothing daunted, this gallant craft maintains her 
course, manned by her crew of stalwart investigators, ever and anon rising 
high on the crest of the waves, which but a short time before threatened in 
their fury to overwhelm her. 
The port of destination is still far in the future ; yet away out on the dis¬ 
tant horizon we see the signs which betoken a successful voyage for our barque ; 
and the promise that she will ultimately arrive safe within the scientists’ harbor 
of “ Deferred Hope and as a result we see the time approaching when the 
science of prophylaxis will, in a great measure supersede the curative medication 
of to-day. 
One evidence of improved professional and social standing is in the increas¬ 
ing recognition of the importance of our profession by the sister and other 
professions and learned societies; the calls that are now made for professional 
