92 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
Whereas, The horse’s tail is intended by nature as a means of defense against 
pestiferous insects, etc., the Virginia State Veterinary Medical Association unquali- 
fidely condemns the practice of docking tails for mere fashion’s sake. There are rare 
instances when it is necessary to amputate a portion of the tail on account of disease 
or injury as it is often necessary to amputate the leg or arm of a human being, but 
the indiscriminate habit of docking tails serves no useful purpose whatever and en¬ 
tails needless suffering on the part of the helpless dumb animal, not only from the 
manner in which it is done, but also during the remainder of the animal’s life from 
various insects ; therefore be it 
Resolved , That we, the members of the Virginia State Veterinary Medical Asso¬ 
ciation, pronounce the docking shears an instrument of inhuman contrivance, and 
consider the habit of docking tails a cruel and barbarous practice, 
Resolved , That we do not consider the unnecessary docking of tails a surgical 
operation, and members of this association are justified in refusing to perform it. 
After considerable discussion the resolutions were adopted. 
The Committee on Legislation and Jurisprudence had no re¬ 
port, but brought the question up for discussion. After con¬ 
siderable discussion it was moved and carried that the committee 
be increased from three to five, which was done, by adding Drs. 
Niles and Miller. 
Dr. Adamson being absent, his paper on “Hydrophobia” 
was read by the secretary, and was listened to with much interest. 
After a most substantial and elegant lunch, at which the asso¬ 
ciation was the guest of the members from Charlottesville, dis¬ 
cussion of the above paper was taken up. The discussion 
brought out the interesting fact that very few of the members 
had seen many cases of rabies, and several of them none. It 
was concluded that there are very few cases in this State. 
Dr. Niles, of Blacksburg, read some notes on recent experi¬ 
ments with tuberculin. The subject is of such interest that it 
was discussed at length, all the members taking part. 
Drs. Faville and Gilchrist reported some interesting cases of 
encephalitis, after which Dr. W. H. Harbaugh read a very in¬ 
teresting paper on “Southern Cattle Fever.” 
After adjournment for supper, the association met in the 
office of Drs. Marshall and Dixon. Dr. Niles related his ex¬ 
perience as veterinary examiner of horses for the Virginia Ex¬ 
position, which, had it not been so serious from a professional 
