684 IRISH CENTRAL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
men we should smother such feelings, no matter how they arise up 
before us. I will admit it is often hard while ambition is invariably 
at the bottom of it, but to those who feel so I say become a member 
of “The Irish Central Veterinary Medical Society,” and you are 
then brought in contact with those very men, learn more of their cha¬ 
racter and abilities, and the result is a mutual respect and confidence 
must establish itself. It is that friendly feeling which has brought 
us here to-night, and we should carry it home with us to our 
practices. 
Our third object is the supervision of our mutual interests, which 
alone can be done by a society of this kind. Individually our 
strength is comparatively small, but when combined in the forma¬ 
tion of an association we are in a position to watch over the common 
interests of our profession, to protect her rights, and guard her 
privileges. 
The fourth object is the substance of the Society—the reading 
and discussion of subjects connected with our science. The spirit 
of the age is progress, every day is bringing to light discoveries, 
inventions, and advantages which were before unknown. There is 
not one of us in our everyday practice but finds something different 
or unusual in almost every case. We cannot adopt the same in 
each, and all have their peculiarities. Our Society is to bring such 
results mutually to light, and to induce an interchange of ideas in 
our members, as well as to fasten those which have already been 
matured on our memories. Let me assure you there is not one 
who brings forward a paper for discussion but is for ever afterwards 
at home in it in practice, while his patrons and his patients find, 
when a case of the kind offers, the advantage of his close investiga¬ 
tion of the subject. 
There is, perhaps, no greater proof of the success of the profes¬ 
sion than the formation of our Society, and anyone who would have 
considered the matter over six months ago and see this room to¬ 
night, could have scarcely imagined we could make so formidable a 
commencement. The matter is still in its infancy, and but wants 
time to have it develope itself and stand prominent amongst the 
institutions of the country. The want of a veterinary college in 
Ireland is publicly acknowledged, and the appropriate remarks of 
our Viceroy at the late agricultural dinner in Dublin, were received 
with deep satisfaction by all those who have the welfare of the pro¬ 
fession at heart. At present the science has to be imported from 
England and Scotland, and it can never make that home and pro¬ 
gress in Ireland which it should do until we have an institution in 
the country which will give it native birth. A few argue there is 
no necessity for it, but why should we have to send our young 
men across the water to educate them when we have every facility 
at home? only put it into operation. I cannot be made believe that 
the profession will overstock itself. The existence of a college 
would stimulate more employment, better men to join the profes¬ 
sion, and tend to strengthen and elevate those already in it. I am 
confident matters will not be allowed to remain much longer as 
