678 NORTH OF ENGLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
he did not endeavour to pay some tribute of regard for the exertions of 
their Hon. Sec. Mr. G. Armatage. 
Societies of a public and private character have great need of a prime 
agent, one upon whom can rest the responsibilities of the whole concern, 
and one capable of taking upon himself duties of a most arduous cha¬ 
racter. The energy and clearness which Mr. Armatage had displayed 
not only in carrying out the wishes and objects of the society, but the 
principles of its formation, for it must be known its origin is entirely due 
to him, eminently characterised him as a most efficient officer, and one cal¬ 
culated to do honour to the profession to which he belonged. 
He— Mr. Hunting —must confess that when Mr. Armatage first inti¬ 
mated to him his desire for the formation of the society, he saw no great 
probability of its establishent; but Mr. Armatage, nothing daunted, pur¬ 
sued his course, and wrote letter after letter, to many of which he never 
received replies. Still, however, he went on, and not satisfied with 
negative replies or silence, he next travelled miles to pay a personal 
visit and win over by his persuasive eloquence. Such is the character 
for perseverance of the Hon. Sec., and to him alone must be awarded 
the merit of having successfully carried out the formation and working 
of the society, and to him must all feel indebted for the present meeting. 
If the society had not been in existence, it is very doubtful if this 
dinner had taken place. (Great applause.) 
Mr. Armatage , in reply, said :—If there were some circumstances of 
greater embarassment than others, they are those in which one is called 
upon to make a response to such flattering sentiments which had fallen 
from the respected President, in recognition of his services as Hon. 
Sec. of the Society. True, he had been conspicuous in its formation ; 
for he felt the establishment of such a society would fulfil an important 
omission in the profession, and perform a means of public good. He 
was desirous of seeing his brethren upon a different footing, consistent 
with education, standing, and the spread of knowledge. Then he had 
met with obstacles in his progress, and the President had presented him¬ 
self as one at the first interview. He was determined, however, not to 
allow the opinions even of Mr. Hunting or any one else to weigh against the 
necessity of doing good, for he felt like Napoleon, and would not 
believe in failures. “ Impossible,” cried that great general, “ I have no 
such word in my dictionary.” 
He felt also there was a great deal to be accomplished by promptitude 
of action. When Sir Colin Campbell was asked when he could set out 
to take charge of the Indian army ? he replied, “ to-morrow.” This was an 
earnest of his future success ; and to these principles alone did he attribute 
the success of the society. Dawdling will not do in such matters ; if you 
cannot be received at the front door, you must attack your man through 
the back ; for determination of purpose must not be overlooked. 
The only thing which gives him (Mr. Armatage) annoyance, is the great 
neglect and apathy which exists among his professional friends, especially 
towards a letter. Many of the members in various parts of Durham 
and Northumberland, &c., to whom he had written half a dozen letters 
each, had not yet deigned a reply, a fact which did not weigh much in 
favour of their general business habits. If they are so slow at letter writing, 
their means of obtaining further improvement would probably be as limited. 
While he felt the proudest satisfaction in the numerical strength of the meet¬ 
ing, he was conscious that some degree of sluggishness existed among the 
members of the neighbouring districts. When the various towns adjoining 
are considered, and the number of practitioners who are not present, it 
must be apparent that a defect exists in the state of things which should 
