SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
601 
of preparing an address to be delivered at the opening of our 
last annual convention, I found that I was compelled to do so 
in somewhat of an apologetic strain. I had to frame it more in 
the nature of an appeal, pointing to the great possibilities of a 
State association, like ours, without having one great meeting 
to point to as a justification of the faith which was in me. 
Glancing over it a few days ago, I find that I recounted the 
various cities in which our meetings were held, but through a 
sense of chagrin I omitted to say that at some of them there 
were very few members in attendance, scarcely a new member 
added to the roll, while at one point I remember the local vet¬ 
erinarians did not even call in at our deliberations, and to all 
appearances did not care that we were in town. When I say 
that in that address I took a position of faith in the future 
rather than pride in the past, I do not wish to speak in a dispar¬ 
aging wav or underestimate the great \Vork accomplished by 
this society, for under adverse conditions it has been stupend¬ 
ous ; and we who are present to-day at this large and represent¬ 
ative gathering of the veterinarians of the Empire State should 
feel under everlasting gratitude to the handful of earnest men 
who struggled to build up the society when their fellow workers 
in the same field held out but little assistance and encourage¬ 
ment to them. Work as they might, their efforts were rewarded 
by the presence at each annual meeting of the same few familiar 
faces, with members gradually growing fewer. 
In one short year we have sprung from this state into a great 
live, enthusiastic association, with a large attendance at our 
meetings, a deep interest in everything pertaining to its deliber¬ 
ations, and with a long list of applications for membership. In¬ 
stead of a programme presented with apologies for its meagre¬ 
ness, every minute of our time is engrossed with important 
papers or instructive surgical clinics, and when the meeting is 
ended each member records a silent promise to be back the 
next year, and to bring a fellow-veterinarian with him. 
What is the cause of this wonderful change which has taken 
place? This is a question not hard to answer. We have been 
so fortunate in securing a Committee of Arrangements who 
have worked so hard and made the programme so attractive and 
valuable that something is to be learned at these'meetings, some 
recompense for the time and money spent in attendance, so that 
a member feels that he cannot afford to stay away ; that he will 
by so doing lose something which he cannot afford to lose. He 
has here the opportunity to listen to and participate in the dis- 
