378 IRISH CENTRAL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, 
attending such societies, and having an earnest desire for the welfare 
of ourcommon profession,have,'at considerablepersonalinconvenience 
and expense, shown a truly philanthropic spirit in coming amongst 
us this evening, the evening of our first meeting, to impart their 
influence, zeal, and energy, in launching forth our Irish Veterinary 
Medical Association. I likewise thank most sincerely the members 
of our sister profession who are present for giving their counte¬ 
nance and support to our undertaking. 
Meetings for the furtherance of a common purpose are at all 
times fraught with benefit; the interchange of ideas, the presenta¬ 
tion of truth in new phases ; the smoothing of egotistical asperi¬ 
ties ; the welcome greetings of professional brethren must all tend 
to good results. 
The members of our profession have been too long estranged; 
the spirit of discord and alienation too persistent; we have not 
kept pace with the professions around. The desire for a thorough 
revision of feelings, ideas, sentiments, and professional bearing, a 
wish that our noble calling should rank and be recognised as a 
profession in the true sense of the word, and that the name of 
veterinary surgeon should be a passport to respect, has impelled me 
to make exertions to advance the profession to which I have the 
honour to belong. 
Mr. Malcolm then addressed the meeting as follows : — Although 
I rise with a great deal of diffidence, still 1 feel that I should not 
allow an opportunity like the present to pass without endeavouring 
in a few remarks to promote the objects of the Association for the 
formation of which we have met here to-day. Several years ago, 
when I first became a member of the Lancashire Veterinary Medical 
Association, I well remember the gulf which separated many mem¬ 
bers of the profession, and prevented them from interchanging 
that mutual intercourse which, in my opinion, not only tends to 
promote the interest of a profession, but I might almost say is its 
very well-spring. Gentlemen, the Association referred to w^as but a 
very short time formed when the good results at once became appa¬ 
rent, and many who were enemies became the best of friends. This 
is only a single instance which came within my own personal expe¬ 
rience ; but,young as I then was, I could not help noticing with 
pleasure the good results which accrued. Gentlemen, I have often 
asked myself the question how it was that in a profession such as 
ours, that some one did not take the initiative and endeavour to 
found and form a veterinary medical association in this country? 
But it is better late than never. Soon after the Association already 
referred to had been formed, another, to which I also have the 
honor to belong, sprung into existence. 1 allude to the National 
Veterinary Benevolent and Defence Association, and have no hesita¬ 
tion in saying that each.and every member of our profession should 
be enrolled in it. I speak thus, for I myself was the recipient of 
one of the benefits for which the Society was formed. Gentlemen, 
I presume that most, if not all of you, have heard of the case in 
wliich I was sued for the value of a horse which was alleged to 
