CORRESPONDENCE. 
935 
might be willing to listen to them, if the local committee having 
the banquet in charge will confer with the President and Secre¬ 
tary and announce the toast list not later than the first day of 
the meeting. I, therefore, endorse all that Dr. Williams has 
said about the quality of these banquet speeches in the past and 
the wisdom of in the future giving at least a few hours’ notice 
of the subjects to be “ toasted ” and the unfortunates to be 
“ roasted.” 
While we are discussing the banquet question there is another 
point worthy of consideration. Since the attendance of the 
ladies has become a fixed feature of our meetings I am of the 
opinion that they should be welcomed to our banquets. I know 
personally of many members who wish for this innovation. 
Active and regular participation in the business of the meeting 
means almost complete exclusion from social intercourse with 
the lady visitors. This is regretted by many and it seems to me 
might be largely obviated by making the banquet the crowning 
social function of the meeting, where we might become ac¬ 
quainted with and enjoy the society of the wives and daughters 
of our friends. If the hour preceding the banquet, which is 
usually sufficiently late to admit of it, were devoted to informal 
social intercourse and improving acquaintances the enjoyment 
of the occasion would be much enhanced. 
Now, Mr. Editor, I have one more suggestion which I hope 
you will give the stamp of your approval. I insist that at the 
next meeting our friend Williams be compelled to attend the 
banquet and speak for not less than ten minutes on some subject 
to be selected on the spot by yourself. I promise to provide the 
stenographer to u take it down ” that we may “ preserve ” it. 
Tait Butler. 
DIFFICULTIES OF ARMY VETERINARIAN IN THE PHILIPPINES. 
Batangas, Prov. of Batangas, P. I., Nov. 16, 1901. 
Editors American Veterinary Review: 
Dear Sirs :— I have taken the liberty to make a further 
report on “ Surra,” * which is so prevalent here at the present 
time, having under my observation at least two hundred animals 
suffering from it. One great drawback is that it is almost im¬ 
possible to get necessary drugs for the purpose of combating 
diseases. While all officers do their utmost to assist the vet¬ 
erinarian, under the present system many hundreds of animals 
* Published elsewhere in this number of the Review. 
