LIVERPOOL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 207 
total absence of interest, either in their own or their profession’s 
progress. Then, again, there are others who exclude themselves 
tiom sordid selfishness; they conclude because they produce no 
tangible cash returns at once they are of no use. Now, of this last 
characteristic trait it may be said that selfishness is poverty; it is 
the most utter destitution of a human being; it can bring nothing 
to his relief; it often adds soreness to his sorrows; it sharpens his 
pain; it aggravates all the losses he is liable to endure. Nature 
recoils from the miser, who caresses mammon with one hand, while 
death plucks him by the other; and when goaded to extremes by 
increased avaricious and penurious habits he often turns destroyer, 
and inflicts the last blow upon himself. Men of this class gene¬ 
rally remain such to the end of the chapter. 
“ The primrose on the river’s bank 
A yellow flower is to him, 
And it is nothing more.” 
It may be argued by some that I am taking too prominent a part, 
am engaged too much in these associations; to such I may reply 
that I do take a deep interest, and ever have taken a deep interest, 
in their success, because I believe sincerely that they present oppor¬ 
tunities more favorable to the advancement of our profession, and, 
therefore, increasing its usefulness in society, than anything that 
has ever occurred before. It is because I am desirous that myself 
and my fellow veterinary surgeons should become better informed, 
get clearer views of our science, see more brightly into the obscure 
things, and by these means work out the attainment of our most 
cherished objects. I feel no shame in saying it is one of the 
proudest feelings that possess me to know that these associations 
are becoming more popular and more numerous, numbering now 
about fourteen distinct associations. At this moment also my friend 
Mr. F. F. Collis is at work in establishing one in Dublin. England 
has her eight or nine, Scotland her four or five. Edinburgh has 
one, Glasgow has one, but London, alas ! is still silent. However, it 
is most gratifying to find that they are doing much good in a variety 
of ways, and are assuming the proportions of a national institution. 
Yet it often fills my mind with sadness to find that there are a few 
men who, instead of hailing them as a boon, attempt to sneer them 
down, throwing the wet blanket upon our efforts, trying to stem the 
stream which is intended to contribute to, to fertilise, and nourish 
the profession ; for of these associations it may be said— 
They all to one grand point will tend, 
As by some natural law w’ill move, 
Each in its own converging groove, 
To one grand point, to one grand end. 
A man is the happier for life for being frequently amongst genial 
spirits, for having agreeable and excellent companions, and for 
