372 WEST OF ENGLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
Mr. James Rowe, of Dorchester, was proposed as a member but 
the Hon. Sec., seconded by Mr. J. D. Barford, and elected. 
Messrs. James Austen, of Exeter ; Samuel Newman, of Havant; 
and James T. Handy, of Chipping Sodbury, w^ere severally proposed 
and unanimously elected members of the association. 
A communication from Mr. George J. Gould, of Southampton, 
relative to the next meeting being held in that town during the visit 
there of the Bath and West of England Show (first week in June) 
M'as considered, but the proposition was finally objected to, on 
account of the short time which would intervene and the advisa¬ 
bility of holding every annual meeting at some central place on the 
main line. 
The preliminary business being concluded, Mr. J. D. Barford 
proceeded to deliver his opinions on “ The Comparative Merits of 
Pure and Cross-bred Animals.” Mr. Harford’s remarks being of 
a very interesting and practical character, were received with marked 
interest and atttention. The essayist commenced by observing that 
his subject, although perhaps somewhat more agricultural than 
medical in its nature, yet on that account was not less important to 
veterinary surgeons. He regretted very much that more attention 
was not paid by agriculturists generally to this subject; the very 
frequent examples of the careless manner in which the breeder 
crosses his animals, are sufficiently evident to all. The qualities 
to be perpetuated in breeding and crossing, horses especially, are 
soundness of constitution, combined with symmetry of form. In 
respect of the latter, some points are of more importance than 
others. He considered a good chest to be one of the chief. A 
standard of excellence should be established with regard to both 
symmetry and soundness of constitution. He looked upon the Arab 
horses as his standard of excellence in these respects, and if breeders 
kept this type of the pure-bred animal in view they could not much 
err. Speaking of the plans of breeding at present adopted, he gave 
preference to the in-and-in system. He acknowledged that it has 
been and now is by many severely deprecated; he was not so 
great an opponent of it, but, on the contrary, considered that it 
might be followed with considerable advantage, provided always 
that soundness in the parents be insisted on. When once excellence 
is obtained, we should preserve it by breeding in-and-in. But, not¬ 
withstanding, it becomes occasionally necessary to depart from this 
rule and cross, in which case the cross should be back to the original 
pure-bred animal; and it should not be continued to the second 
remove. 
In crossing, Mr. Barford believes the influence of the female pre¬ 
dominates over that of the male, and consequently he pays more 
heed to purity on the part of the dam than on that of the sire. 
Among numerous other qualifications desirable, good action or true 
harmony of motion in progression occupies a prominent place. 
A very profitable discussion followed, which was participated in 
by all the members present, at the close of which the president 
thanked Mr, Barford warmly and sincerely for his address, more 
