LIVERPOOL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
859 
I will now come more closely to the subject immediately before us. 
I wish to speak as a practical man to practical men ; and I would 
ask you individually this question—would it not be much better 
and more agreeable for tlie members of our profession, especially 
those who are in large towns, to shake off old reserve and exclu¬ 
siveness, to cultivate a more cordial feeling, and to feel that their 
separate individual connections and businesses were more secure ; 
that there was less to deplore in some of the members of the pro¬ 
fession, less of that secret, underhand influence working, which in 
past times has been such a disgrace to our profession, and which 
even now occasionally exhibits itself in its despicable character and 
hideous deformity? If you answer, “Most certainly it would be 
far preferable,” then I say to you, one and all, join this Association, 
and see that it is conducted in a proper spirit. If you tell me that 
the same spirit will still prevail and operate to the same extent, 
even when the Association is in full force, I deny the possibility of 
its doing so ; the mind is imperceptibly led to establish sympathies 
wdiich will effectually prevent it; if there is only one case of unpro¬ 
fessional conduct where there are ten now (which is what we 
anticipate), surely that will be a great encouragement. Let us 
banish the thought at once and for ever; let us dissipate 
the delusion that there is no honour in the members of the pro¬ 
fession ; but if, unhappily, there should be a few nondescripts who 
are still disposed to act unworthily, let us prove to them by our 
example that “ honesty is the best policy ; ” let us force them by 
very shame to follow in our wake. And here allow me seriously to 
warn the young practitioner, aye, and the old practitioner too, of 
the lasting injury he sustains by loss of confidence. The knowledge 
soon spreads secretly amongst his fellow-practitioners that “ he is 
not to be trusted “will do you a dirty action,” and not one of 
your fellow-vets, dare to leave his practice in your care in his absence. 
This character, once established, has its blasting influence upon 
you throughout life; no man can succeed with such a drawback, 
for none can speak respectfully of him; they all secretly dislike 
him, and the public see it, and are influenced by the impression. 
But the young practitioner, and his senior also, who is ever careful 
to act wdtli strict integrity and honour, and who is true to 
his fellow-practitioners, soon reaps his reward; they one and all 
respect and esteem him ; they feel a confidence in him, and experi¬ 
ence a pleasure in entrusting him with the care of their practice ; 
they will any of them do him a good turn; the public see it, and 
are not slow in appreciating it, and his success in life is rendered 
certain. If we will only act faithfully to each other, we have the 
whole thing in our own hands ; there will be no more breaches of 
professional etiquette ; we shall then have a confidence in each 
other, a right spirit will prevail, and peace of mind will be enjoyed ; 
our noble profession will then be a pleasure to follow ; it w ill be 
elevated to a higher sphere, and estimated in society with more 
respect, ai d hence it must occupy that status to which it legiti¬ 
mately belongs. Let our watchword be “ onward and upward,” 
