676 NORTH OF ENGLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
kill more animals than they cured. He knew a case in point, in which 
the lives of some valuable draught horses were destroyed by one of these 
quacks. The animals were suffering from an unusually severe attack of 
influenza. The old remedy —bleeding and purging—was resorted to, fol¬ 
lowed, as might be expected, by utter prostration, and ultimate death. 
No doubt many valuable animals were still destroyed by unskilful and 
injudicious treatment. This class of men are happily disappearing from 
the southern counties, and when farmers really know the importance of 
veterinary science as applied to pathology, they will cease to employ 
these cow leeches or veterinary quacks. 
There is a wide field open to the educated and skilled veterinary 
surgeon. One important subject to which he might with profit direct his 
attention is that of cattle food. The ever-increasing demand for meat 
necessitates an enormous consumption of artificial food. The farmer is 
subject to the greatest fraud; indeed, too often he becomes the victim of 
unprincipled men. How great would be the advantage to have within 
his reach the scientific veterinary practitioner, who could analyse that 
food, and direct him in its proper application. Their chairman (Mr. 
Hunting) had published a valuable pamphlet on the principles and 
economy of horse-feeding. It should be read by all interested in cattle- 
feeding. He (Mr. Cubitt) had, as an individual, profited by its perusal, 
and he thought this a fitting opportunity to thank Mr. Hunting for such 
valuable information. He agreed with the professors, that these matters 
were not sufficiently ventilated. It was a pity that men so advanced in 
their profession should hide their light under a bushel. It could only be 
from a comparing of notes and from a well-kept record of what was 
passing in the veterinary sphere, that the profession could hope to reach 
that pinnacle of success they were now somewhat tardily approaching. 
He could not resume his seat without a passing remark on what had 
fallen from Mr. Stephenson, who expressed a hope that the strangers 
visiting their town had been treated with kindness, and been gratified 
with what they saw. Tor his own part, he must beg to say that he had 
met with the greatest civility; all seemed to vie with each other, from 
the gentleman at the head of those vast factories to the humbler mechanic, 
in their desire to show and to explain those wonderful engineering sights 
on the banks of the Tyne. In going over such works as Stephenson’s and 
Hawthorn’s, as also Palmer Brothers’ at Jarrow, he could not but feel a 
wish that those people bred and born (in the more isolated districts of the 
kingdom) with cramped views and narrow minds could come here and 
see what was going on in the icorld and for the world. Who could witness 
the progress of those beautiful engines—many to go abroad, destined to 
open out the resources of foreign lands—and the building of those magnifi¬ 
cent iron ships, without contemplating the probable great and noble 
results, as tending to the spread of civilisation, and adding to the happi¬ 
ness of the human race ? 
Mr. Cubitt concluded by again thanking Mr. Fairbairn for the honour 
of having his name coupled with the toast of the visitors, and trusted 
such meetings of the profession would become more frequent, and not 
fail to have the desired effect. 
Professor Gamgee proposed “The President,” and spoke of him not only 
as a gentleman, but as a successful practitioner; one who tested men by 
a peculiar guage, and in proportion to their willingness and capabilities 
for good works. He had known him for many years as a friend and 
brother professional, and considered him, from his high professional 
attainments, eminently calculated to fill the honourable post of President 
of the North of England Veterinary Medical Association. (Applause.) 
