SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
657 
the purpose of regulating the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery in this 
State, it was resolved by the committee, that we should draft a bill for the 
purpose of discussion, and that a copy of the same, together with a circular let¬ 
ter, should be forwarded to each qualified practitioner in this State, with the re 
quest that he would consider the subject and favor us with an expression of his 
opinion, or himself draft a bill and forward the same to the committee. 
At the time of the canvass there were in all sixty-seven qualified practi¬ 
tioners in the State, and out of that number thirty-six reported by answering the 
questions submitted in the circular and one by drafting a bill. 
The answers received by the committee are as follows : Thirty-eight in favor 
of legislation; two not in favor of legislation; four in favor of a five years’ practice 
to entitle to register; thirty-five in favor of an examination to entitle to register; 
four in favor of including castration and spaying under the head of veterinary 
surgery; thirty-five not in favor of including castration and spaying under the 
head of veterinary surgery; thirty-eight in favor of presenting a bill to the 
Legislature; two not in favor of presenting a bill to the Legislature. 
Upon consideration of the foregoing opinions from the profession, your 
committee respectfully recommend that steps be taken toward obtaining such 
legislation as will meet the requirements of the profession, and raise the standard 
of veterinary science in the State to the sphere to which it rightfully belongs, 
and thereby protect the public from the many impositions now practiced upon 
them by numerous unskilled and incompetent persons styling themselves veter¬ 
inary surgeons. It is further recommended that a bill be drafted between this 
and the next regular meeting of the Association, and that such bill be then pre¬ 
sented to the members of the Association for their approval. 
In regard to ways and means, your committee report as follows: 
In view of the fact that at the present time only about fifty counties in the 
State have a qualified veterinarian, we recommend that a complete list be made 
of all towns in the State which are unprovided with a qualified practitioner, with 
the view of assisting new graduates to find good locations, and that a circular be 
addressed to all the veterinary colleges in the United States, requesting prospec¬ 
tive graduates to correspond with this Association. By this method in the course 
of two years there will be a sufficient number of qualified practitioners in every 
county in the State, which fact alone will remove one of the greatest obstacles to 
the enacting of a veterinary law. We further recommend the appointment of a 
committee of five, one from each section of the State, who shall be required to 
attend the meetings of all live stock associations and farmers’ institutes, each 
member of said committee to attend the meeting held in his own district, and 
present an address on the subject of veterinary legislation and use every honest 
endeavor to gain their support and co-operation in the matter. 
In order to meet the necessary expense which will be incurred, we recom¬ 
mend that the members of the Association consent to be assessed the sum of $5.00 
each, which together with any voluntary subscriptions, shall be used to defray 
the actual expenses of those selected by the Association to carry out its instruc¬ 
tions. 
In conclusion, we are of the opinion that no State in the Union is more in 
need of veterinary legislation than our own State of Iowa, and that in the event 
