148 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
tried how little they could do, without actually doing anything ; yet we are all fret¬ 
ting because we don’t get recognition and secure legislation. Have we each brought 
the name of an applicant that we wish to become a member of this association ; if not, 
let us each return home from this meeting with the determination that it shall not 
occur again ; and that at the next meeting we will bring at least one name, if not, 
more, to present to the meeting ; in this way we benefit our association and reflexly 
ourselves. 
Another way, and to my .mind, a very good way to get recognition, is to keep 
ourselves before the public a little more by writing to our local papers, correcting 
false ideas that appear from time to time in them concerning certain diseases of do¬ 
mestic animals, written not only by laymen but by medical doctois. 
Before we can expect to be recognized we have a duty to perform,to the geneial 
public. It is our duty to lead, not to follow ; not merely to be alongside of public 
opinion, but to lead it in such matters as professional training and general practice 
afford us facilities for forming advanced opinions. 
The most threatening evil that I see to hinder us from advancing, not only in the 
minds of the public, but our own, is the alarming increase of two term schools. It is 
no uncommon occurrence for one of these schools only having been in existence a few 
months to graduate from one to a dozen students ; this gentlemen, is positively alarm¬ 
ing, and it is our bounded duty to do, legitimately, all in our power to influence in¬ 
tending students to stay away from these Diploma Mills, where the matriculation 
examination consists of paying sixty to one hundred dollars. Others again, as a mat¬ 
ter of form, have a matriculation examination where the questions set to students on 
entering, to test their general education, seem to be just about such as would indicate 
whether a man possessed sufficient knowledge and intelligence to understand and 
learn the science necessary to make a veterinary surgeon. 
From what I have seen of successful candidates, it is certain a very low standaid 
of proficiency is accepted by the examiners. I should fancy ten per cent, of marks 
must pass a man. And if I am right, this is unfair to the profession at which they 
I am calling your attention to what is one of our practical responsibilities. 
We, as members of the profession are virtually interested in the quality of mam 
we admit to our ranks. 
With us, it ought to lay whether he will be a credit or discredit to us ; is he the 
kind of man who will add to our general knowledge, do justice to his client and 
honor the diploma by which we recognize him, and by which we recommend him to 
the public. How to remedy this great evil is hard to answer ; however, it is our duty 
from now on to think of it and bring it before the public in a legitimate way, so that 
intending veterinary students may be kept from entering such institutions. 
But let us turn for a few moments and take a brighter view of our profession and 
see how we stand. Scientific men twenty years ago in this country were unknown. 
To-day in our schools and in practice, there are plenty of men, capable of themselves, 
undertaking an original piece of scientific research, and carrying it through, as no 
man could in the previous history of our profession, and as to practice, we have better 
practitioners than we ever had before, Rational treatment is now the prevailing rule, 
and we understand that if nature is given a chance there are better prospects for am 
animal’s recovery. 
