234 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
tacks made on veterinarians and sanitary boards have either been made 
through ignorance, or a desire to become prominent through a series of 
misrepresentations. We ought now to be pleased that our profession 
has at last been recognized. So have for its members gentlemen who 
we believe are capable and fully qualified as meat and milk inspectors. 
I am sure you will agree with me when I say, we are at last placed in 
our right position. Stringent meat and milk inspection cannot possibly 
be carried out by any other than a qualified veterinarian. 
And now my fellow practitioners, we trust this meeting shall be a 
congenial and profitable one, and if you will allow me, let me suggest 
that after the routine business of the meeting we consider and discuss 
the papers and communications that may be brought before us. Who 
is there among us that has not met complicated cases, and does not 
need the advice of fellow practitioners ? These meetings are the very 
place to give and receive such information. 
We do not want to be antagonistic to any work this association may 
have in hand, but we think for the good ot the association, there is one 
subject we should let rest for the present. We refer to veterinary legis¬ 
lation. The discussion of this subject has taken up a greater part of the 
time of our meetings for several years, and what is the result ? Surely 
we have gained nothing, but on rhe contrary we have lost. 
What we want to do is to turn our efforts in another direction. We 
should endeavor to make these meetings so interesting and profitable 
that no veterinarian in the State can afford to miss them. Then we will 
be strong enough in numbers to have some influence. 
Concluding, we, your officers for the past year, express our warmest 
appreciation for the help and support that has been accorded us on all 
sides. It is true some have been a little dilatory in the matter of 
answering correspondence, which makes the work a little burdensome, 
but we think it has not been for lack of interest. 
You must now choose others from your ranks to bear the responsibil¬ 
ities we have striven to discharge, and when the new officers take the 
good ship by the helm, we hope that each and every one of you will 
lend a helping hand toward making this one of the strongest State or¬ 
ganizations in the United States. 
In conclusion let us ever be mindful of the one great object of such 
organizations as this, helping one another. There is room for us all, 
and only the honorable means of fair competition will end well and 
bring to us all that just reward which comes as the result oi honest 
toil. 
Secretary Dr. W. H. Gribble was then asked if he had any 
report to make, and responded with the following: 
Mr. President and Gentlemen : At the last annual session of this asso¬ 
ciation, a resolution was adopted that if the American Veterinary Asso¬ 
ciation met in annual session in Detroit, Mich., that we, as an associa¬ 
tion, have no semi-annual session ; but should, as individuals, all try to 
meet with the national body. As you all received invitations to a ses¬ 
sion it is proper that we offer an explanation. As soon as Detroit had 
been selected by the American Association, we began corresponding 
with the officers of the Michigan Veterinary Association and received 
from them an urgent request that we as an association meet in Detroit ; 
and finally it was decided that so it should not seem as if we were fore- 
