767 
PROVINCIAL VETERINARY MEDICAL 
ASSOCIATIONS. 
Letter from Mr. E. Coleman Dray, President of the 
Yorkshire Association, Leeds. 
Gentlemen, —I should not have troubled you with this 
communication had I not seen my name mentioned in a 
letter to you in this month’s (October) number of the Veteri¬ 
narian, from Mr. John Mitchell, of Leeds. Believing myself 
to be on friendly terms with my professional brethren of this 
town, I am surprised that Mr. Mitchell did not ask me—as 
I frequently see him—if I had alluded to him in my “ post¬ 
prandial” speech at Newcastle. The following is what 1 said 
at that meeting :—“ I know a veterinary surgeon at the pre¬ 
sent time in one of the largest towns in Yorkshire, who is 
neither a member of a veterinary medical association, nor 
does he take in a periodical in connection with his pro¬ 
fession.” 
Now, I beg to assure Mr. Mitchell that these remarks did 
not apply to him. It appears, however, that the cap fitted; 
and I regret exceedingly to know that there are two veteri¬ 
nary surgeons (instead of one) to whom my observations are 
applicable. In these days of progress any comment of mine 
would be supererogativc. 
With regard to veterinary medical associations, they have 
now become an established fact. During the formation of 
the Yorkshire Association I consulted Professor Morton on 
the point mentioned in Mr. Mitchell’s letter, and he (Pro¬ 
fessor Morton) was of opinion that all members possessing 
diplomas of recognised schools were eligible to become mem¬ 
bers of veterinary medical associations. Mr. Mitchell some 
time ago published his reasons for not joining our associa¬ 
tion, in the Leeds Mercury ; but as I did not consider a public 
newspaper to be a proper medium for medical discussion, I 
did not reply to his letter. Before, however, coming to this 
decision, 1 asked two or three members of our association 
w ? hat their sentiments on the subject were, when they unani¬ 
mously agreed in wishing me to take no notice, for they did 
not consider Mr. Mitchell would be any acquisition to our 
society. 
I can easily imagine that Mr. Mitchell feels isolated, and 
re2: rets the step he has taken. I maintain “ our house is not 
^jyided against itself,” for, with only a few exceptions, all the 
ve t e rinary surgeons in Yorkshire are members of our asso- 
