__ VETERINARY EDUC ATION, ETC., IN NEW YORK STATE. 679 
But how long has it taken for European schools to reach 
that point? 
If Lyon and Alfort are a century old and if it is only at the 
end of those hundred years that such facts have been accom¬ 
plished. Can it be expected that after an existence of only 
thirty years, we can accomplish it? 
. 7 he P r °s ress that has so far been made, as results of required 
improved education are too evident for me to dwell upon. 
The class of practitioners, of the young men who enter the 
profession now are far superior to those of years gone by; the 
work that has been accomplished by the members of the veterin¬ 
ary profession has spoken by its results—greater public consid¬ 
eration is now granted to the veterinarians of to-day as com¬ 
pared with that given to the old self-made practitioner; legisla¬ 
tive bodies are listening to our claims and the Regents of the 
University of the State are devoting some of their valuable at¬ 
tention to the subject of veterinary education and the regulation 
of the practice of veterinary medicine in the State of New York. 
From all these we realize that we are coming close to the period 
I was alluding to a moment ago. 
As you are aware, a bill was presented at the last legislature 
in relation to those important subjects. 
Fiamed upon the medical bill now in force in the state, the 
bill recommended the creation of a board of veterinary examin¬ 
ers, specifications were presented as to the duties of that board, 
as to the qualifications of those who would be allowed to present 
themselves for examination before said board and also as pri¬ 
mary requirement, were the essentials for matriculation and 
graduation from our veterinary colleges. 
The principal object of the bill was higher education, and on 
that no one can object it—myself last of all—but as long as we 
are now speaking on this subject, I hope you will allow me a 
few remarks on some of the requirements of the bill. 
The cieation of a board of examiners is one that I cannot 
too strongly indorse. I have on previous occasions and in vari¬ 
ous papers pointed out the importance I attach to the existence 
