SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
813 
M.D., of Blacksburg, were elected to membership. Dr. Geo. 
Ben. Johnston, M.D., of Richmond, was elected an honorary 
member. 
The Committee on Jurisprudence and Legislation, through 
their Chairman, reported as follows: 
To the Virginia State Veterinary Medical Association : 
Gentlemen On Sept. 25, 1S95, a negro blacksmith was tried in the police 
court of the City of Richmond, on the charge of cruelty to an animal, for having 
burnt a horse’s mouth with a heated iron to cure the lampas. 
The case was prosecuted by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 
and was stubbornly contested by the defense. Five veterinary practitioners, three 
medical doctors, one dentist, and two horsemen testified that the practice of burning 
for the condition called lampas was cruel and unnecessary. Many other witnesses 
were present to testify to the same effect, but the justice said the prosecution had in¬ 
troduced enough evidence. 
The owner of the horse that was burnt testified that the horse improved after 
the burning ; three liverymen testified that the operation was beneficial, and that 
after horses were burnt they always regained their appetites. The defendant testi¬ 
fied that he had burned between 1,500 and 2,000 and had never seen any bad results. 
Counsel for the prosecution requested that if a fine was imposed on the defend¬ 
ant, the fine be remitted, as this was only intended as a test case. 
In summing up, the justice said he must be governed by the expert evidence, 
and was compelled to decide that the operation was cruel, but as it had been a long- 
established custom, and as he did not think the blacksmith intended any cruelty, he 
would discharge him, but any other cases brought before him would be tried on their 
merits. 
As this was the first case of the kind ever prosecuted in this State, I consider 
the decision of the court fair and just. I also consider it a great victory for the vet¬ 
erinary profession, as it will effectually check the barbarous practices of the many 
pretenders who dupe the ignorant horse-owners. 
I reported this case to the President of the S. P. C. A., with the request that a 
test case be made of it, with the hope that a favorable decision could be obtained in 
order to stop a severe infliction of pain for an entirely imaginary condition. Ever 
since I have been a veterinarian I have carefully looked for a disease of the bars of 
young horses’ mouths, and I have never seen in the condition called lampas the 
slightest evidence of disease. No such disease exists ; the condition is normal and 
the ignorant should be taught not to interfere with it. Abnormal condition of the 
gums that require attention does not necessitate any interference with the bars. We 
should cease to use the term “ lampas,” even in connection with disease of the gums. 
Respectfully, W. H. Harbaugh. 
From this same committee a report was made upon the sub¬ 
ject of legislation, which elicited a great amount of discussion. 
The action of all the States to the north of Virginia in the matter 
of stringent veterinary legislation, by driving a horde of quacks 
into this State, forces upon this Association the careful considera- 
tien of this question. 
It was finally agreed to ask the legislature now in session to 
give us a law creating an examining board. A law practically 
the same as that governing the practice of medicine in this State, 
modified to meet the requirements of the veterinary profession. 
A recess was taken to attend a clinic at the Old Dominion 
Hospital, by invitation of Dr. Geo. Ben. Johnston. The Associa- 
