180 YORKSHIRE VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
pleasure associate to listen to sweet songs, to join in the 
merry dance, and experience noisy excitement. On the 
Continent of Europe men are associated to burst the bonds 
of tyranny, and by the sacrifice of life itself to secure to their 
children, and their children's children, the magnificent 
heritage of civil liberty; and lately the Emperor of the 
French convoked the sovereigns of Europe to an interna¬ 
tional congress or association/"’ 
Now, although our aspirations may not reach so high 
as some of these, yet our lesser orb has its sphere of useful¬ 
ness in which to revolve, and we shall soon be associated 
with others, each moving in its separate and independent 
circle. I hope, and believe, that our aim is to be useful. 
VVe are become wedded to our science having been long in 
love with it. To advance its interests, therefore, is only to 
advance ourselves, and surely for this we merit no commen¬ 
dation, for it is simply selfishness. But it fairly may be 
asked, What are the best means that can be devised to 
effect this? And we unhesitatingly answer that, among all 
the methods proposed, we know of none so likely to accom¬ 
plish what we have in view as the periodically meeting toge¬ 
ther of those who are actuated by the same desires, influ¬ 
enced by the like motives, and whose aim and end are the 
same. 
These platitudes I might almost be content to leave with 
you, only you will naturally expect that I dwell somewhat on 
the object for which we have now met together, and explain 
more fully the plans we purpose to adopt. The object is 
one—the general advancement of our profession; and the 
means to be adopted to attain this have been already enun¬ 
ciated. We claim no originality here, for it has been 
over and over again suggested in our monthly Journal the 
Veterinarian ; but wfith the suggestions there would seem to 
have been but few, if any, efforts made to carry them out. On 
us, then, falls the honour of being among the first provincial 
veterinary medical associations formed, and the very first in 
Yorkshire. Nor do I think lightly of our being thus privi¬ 
leged to take the initiative in this county. 
The course of procedure we may adopt at first, probably, 
will not be perfect. Indeed, it is not likely to be so; if, how¬ 
ever, the foundation be correctly and firmly laid, and the 
outline of the building in like manner be truthfully traced, 
the superstructure, as it is gradually raised, will prove 
enduring, from the many labourers that will be employed in 
it, each bringing materials that have been tested, and each at 
the same time giving the result of his experience. On this 
