ON PRESENT STATE OF VETERINARY PROFESSION. 733 
existing in the profession in all which relates to its self- 
government. Our annual meetings are certainly not worthy 
of us as a profession, and again and again have I commented 
on the absence of many of our leading members, and par¬ 
ticularly those who reside in the metropolis. This apathy, 
in my opinion, reflects great discredit upon the town members. 
Surely they might devote two or three hours once a year to 
our and their own interests. They have an excellent example 
shown them, in this respect, by the provincial members. 
These are, without exception, most punctual in their attend¬ 
ance, and I, for one, feel much indebted to them for their 
valuable aid and assistance. 
3. With regard to the appointment of examiners, I quite 
concur with the strictures which the editors of the Veterinarian 
have seen necessary to make respecting the co-operation of 
members of our sister profession on the examiners’ board. 
Such an amalgamation is indispensable, and so far from cast¬ 
ing any reflection upon us, I consider it adds to our dignity, 
and sorry indeed should I be to see that separation effected, 
which some among us seem bent on bringing about. On the 
general spirit of the Leaders in the Veterinarian I sincerely 
compliment the writer; but I regret the use of such expres¬ 
sions as “knacker-man’s anatomy” and “blacksmith’s phy¬ 
siology.” They are likely to be misinterpreted, and thus 
to mislead some who may not clearly understand the prin¬ 
ciple which is being contended for. Mr. Fleming’s castigatory 
letter is also to be very much regretted. He seems to 
deplore that the reporter, who attends the council meetings, 
does not do him and other members justice in reporting 
their speeches. Few of us are either as eloquent or as 
earnest as Mr. Fleming, and I can, therefore, easily under¬ 
stand his feelings. Those who do not possess oratorical 
powers are, perhaps, the better pleased with the brevity of 
the shorthand writer’s notes. Condensation here may be 
good judgment and sound policy. It has been often re¬ 
marked that some of the members of the House of Commons 
who have spoken over night have been astonished next 
morning to find in the newspapers, splendid reports of the 
speeches they have made. The public is often unaware that 
it is the dressing and finishing touch of the reporter which 
frequently makes a speech even readable. 
4. I am sorry to hear that some of the veterinary medical 
associations are not progressing very satisfactorily. I have 
noticed that the attendance at the various meetings has been 
meagre in the extreme, and in this month’s Veterinarian no 
report was published of one of the oldest societies, viz. th§ 
