768 MIDLAND COUNTIES VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
while I highly commend what is being done in one case, I cannot 
go so far as our friend Mr. Burley did in his strictures upon us 
as a body, at the meeting at Tamworth. Doubtless we owe a 
deep debt of gratitude to those gentlemen who kindly undertake 
to fill important offices in our profession—offices that entail con¬ 
siderable loss of time, much expense, and anxiety, with often but 
little thanks—still let us not forget those who labour hard in 
private life, and who by high professional attainments and un¬ 
tarnished character are doing much, “ although that work is 
carried on silently,” to elevate the standard of their profession; 
such a person was the late Mr. Rose, and such, I am proud to 
believe, are many others still working among us, who, when called 
away, will surely be deserving of our respect and esteem. 
I pass on to our body generally, and ask what position do 
we occupy as a profession ? and I am bold enough to answer, 
never did the veterinary profession of Great Britain stand in so 
favorable a position to itself, or in so great estimation in the 
opinion of the public as at the present time. If it is still to pro¬ 
gress rests entirely with ourselves; the public look more to and 
expect more from the veterinary surgeon than ever they did. 
Take as an instance the increasing number of examinations which 
pass through our hands. Formerly it was the exception that 
purchasers of horses should have them examined; now it is the 
exception that they purchase a horse without consulting their 
veterinary surgeon; in fact, my experience tells me that our advice 
is more generally sought after than ever it was, and that in society 
we rank higher than ever we did; and why is this ? I hold that 
the veterinary surgeon of the present day is more highly educated, 
and in private life more discreet than he was wont to be. In 
making these remarks, gentlemen, I apply them to our body, and 
not to individuals. I am well aware that, from the earliest date, 
there have been those who not only ranked high in society, but 
also in scientific attainments ; and instead of wishing to pull down 
all that is old and set up only that which is new, I may say for 
myself that no man venerates the gray hairs and respects the 
opinions of age more than I do. If it had not been for our pre¬ 
decessors and their labours, the veterinary profession could never 
have occupied its present position—a position, however, that we 
must not be content with. 
Excelsior must still be our cry, and that this is generally felt— 
witness the doings of our councils and colleges. Never has there 
been in one year such great and good reforms effected as during 
the past; the alterations and additions, both in the curriculum of 
study, and also in the facilities offered to the pupils, are highly 
commendable; and if the student of the present day has greater 
demands made upon him, the advantages placed before him far 
