SOCIETY MEETINGS 
525 
VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY. 
The regular meeting of this Association took place on the 12tli of January in 
Newark. A number of Trenton veterinarians were present. An interesting dis¬ 
cussion ensued on the bill requiring registration of veterinary surgeons. The 
topic was called up by Dr. Hamill, lately of New York City. He said that he 
was in entire harmony with the bill. He believed in it so far as it went, but 
claimed that it did not go far enough. He thought the profession should have 
placed a higher estimation upon its character and services than to limit the price 
of registration to one dollar. The price of registration should have been fixed at 
ten dollars. This would have added dignity to the cause. 
Dr. Miller, of Camden, spoke of the difficulty of getting a bill of any kind 
through the Legislature, and the Association had accepted for the present what 
they could get on the principle that the half loaf is better than no bread. 
Franklin Dye, of Trenton, stated that there is need of an efficient corps 
of veterinarians in New Jersey. The horses of this State are valued higher than 
those of any other State in the Union, and the same is true of the milk cows and 
beef cattle. We cannot afford to risk the lives of this valuable stock. Concern¬ 
ing the State Veterinary Association, the State Board of Health, the Bureau of 
Animal Industry and the State Board of Agriculture, they are working on too 
many divergent lines. They should be brought into closer sympathy of under¬ 
standing and action as to the sphere and work of each. A vast amount of money 
is expended for the extermination of disease which does not seem to give corres¬ 
ponding results. Diseases of cattle especially are assuming new complications 
and are becoming serious. They affect not only the pocket of the owner, but 
also the consumers of milk, and this is true of diseased pork. This whole sub¬ 
ject is one of general interest, and may require further Congressional and State 
legislation. 
An interesting paper on “ Swine Plague,” was read by Dr. Julius Gerth, Jr., 
stating that to-day this disease can be found in every State of the Union. 
An extended and animated discussion arose over the proper diagnosis of the 
disease which has been termed by some veterinarians bovine variola, or an ag¬ 
gravated form of cowpox, caused by the Buffalo fly ; by others a new disease 
not yet accounted for. Dr. Dunston, of Morristown, said he believed that the 
milk from these cows is being sold to the public. Dr. Higgins, of New Bruns¬ 
wick, said that he knew that milk from cows suffering from this disease was be¬ 
ing sold in the community. 
The President was instructed to appoint a committee of five to investigate 
and prosecute all cases where veterinarians are practicing without being reg¬ 
istered. 
A committee of three, consisting of Dr. W. B. Miller, of Camden, Dr. Julius 
Gerth, Jr., of Newark, and Dr. W. H. Cooper, of Trenton, was appointed to at¬ 
tend the next annual meeting of the Board of Agriculture. 
