359 
WEST OF SCOTLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL 
ASSOCIATION. 
The quarterly meeting of the West of Scotland Veterinary 
Medical Association was held in the Glasgow Institution 
Rooms, on Wednesday, 6th April. 
Mr. Robinson, President, in the chair. 
The minutes of the former meeting were read and 
approved. 
The Bills now before Parliament, called the “ Cattle Im¬ 
portation Bill/* and u Cattle Diseased Meat Bill/* were 
moved for discussion by the Chairman , who said.—In the 
time allowed for the discussion of particular cases, before the . 
reading of the paper specially prepared for this day’s pro¬ 
ceedings, I should like to hear the opinions of the members of 
this society on the Bill now before Parliament regarding the 
sale of diseased cattle and meat; and before entering upon 
the discussion of this question I will merely throw out a few 
ideas for your consideration, which I trust will be the means 
of evoking an unbiassed opinion from each of you as to the 
necessity of coming to a right conclusion on this matter, at 
the present time, I may say, one of vast importance. 
The subject may be generally stated as referring to the 
alleged nature of and extent to which the sale of diseased 
animal food, and also the traffic in the milk of unhealthy cows, 
is carried on in large communities, involving, as it does, to 
such an extent, the health and lives of the people. The 
question is not only of the most vital public importance, but 
is peculiarly applicable for investigation by this association. 
A great deal has been said and published regarding it, and 
in some cases individuals have been indicated with as much 
precision as if named who are said to have, directly or in¬ 
directly, connived at the introduction of diseased cattle and 
carcasses into our markets and slaughter-houses. In appeal¬ 
ing, however, to your collective experience, I hope that the 
whole bearings of the case will be elicited, and the public 
confidence restored, either by proving the utter groundless¬ 
ness of the allegations thus made, or by protecting the public 
from the risk of even occasionally a carcass being exposed in 
w hich the taint of disease can be detected by the most skilful 
as w 7 ell as most vigilant inspection. 
I do not presume to dictate the precise means by which 
these objects are to be obtained, or to cast the slightest ini- 
