SCOTTISH METROPOLITAN VETERINARY ASSOCIATION. 297 
Edinburgh; Comachie, Selkirk; Einlay, Royal Artillery, Leith 
Eort; Black, Howgate; Young, East Calder; and the Secretary. 
Mr. Dan. Maclean, President of the West of Scotland Yeteri- 
nary Medical Association, was also present. 
Mr. Robertson, Kelso, reopened the question of “ Eees for 
Examinations as to Soundness” discussed at last meeting, stating 
that had he been present he would have assuredly advocated in¬ 
creased remuneration for this duty; that it was at times one of 
the most unpleasant the veterinary surgeon had to perform; that 
at least a guinea should be charged for examining a horse worth 
£50; and that in these days of high prices and agitations for 
higher pay, the veterinary surgeon’s fees, not only for examining 
as to soundness, but also for general professional attendance, 
should be raised to meet at least the increased expenditure. 
Professor Williams said that the result of the discussion at the 
last meeting was simply that, although it would be almost impos¬ 
sible to fix any definite scale of charges, it was very desirable to 
have increased remuneration whenever it could be obtained. 
That the subject was an important one, and would be all the 
better of being ventilated; that it would be a great boon to 
students and young practitioners to have some definite idea as 
to the charges they should make on entering practice, and 
suggested that Mr. Robertson favour members with a paper on 
the subject at next meeting. 
Mr. Robertson kindly consented to do so, and it was arranged 
that the meeting be held in April during the week of the ex¬ 
aminations at the Veterinary College, so that gentlemen from a 
distance attending these examinations might be invited, and have 
the opportunity of being present. 
As interesting cases Mr. Robertson described the removal of a 
melanotic tumour sixteen pounds in weight from the neck of an 
ox. It was situated midway between the angle of the lower jaw 
and the sternum, and seemed to cause no inconvenience save from 
its great weight. Mr. Robertson did not anticipate any great 
difficulty in removing it, but found that its attachments, though 
mainly to the muscles, were deep and firm. Its pedicle was very 
large, extending to within a quarter of an inch of the carotid 
artery; while a large and a smaller artery and corresponding 
venous branches entered into its substance. The hemorrhage 
would have been considerable, but pressure on the carotid itself 
enabled the principal artery to be secured. The animal did well, 
the wound healed rapidly, leaving only a large cicatrix. The 
animal was bright red in colour, and the tumour was found to 
consist of pure black melanotic matter. 
Professor Williams stated that he had several smaller melanotic 
tumours in the College Museum which had been removed from 
