73 
THE SCOTTISH METROPOLITAN VETERINARY 
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
The quarterly meeting of this Association was held on Wednesday the 
10th December, in the London Hotel, Edinburgh. Mr. Rutherford, 
Edinburgh, presided, and the following gentlemen were present:—Professors 
Walley and Baird, Edinburgh Veterinary College; Professor McCall, 
Glasgow Veterinary College; Messrs. Aitken, sen., Edinburgh; Borth- 
wick, Kirkliston ; Young, East Calder ; Balfour, Kircaldy ; Kirk, Edin¬ 
burgh ; Connochie, Ayton ; Brown, West Calder; A. Baird, Edinburgh ; 
Reekie, Edinburgh; Reid, Leith ; and the Secretary. 
The office-bearers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:—Mr. 
Connochie, Selkirk, president; Messrs. Aitken, Borthwick, and Young, 
vice-presidents ; the present secretary was re-elected. 
The President gave notice that at next meeting he would move for the 
appointment of a visiting committee to wait personally on members of the 
Association and other veterinary surgeons, within reasonable distance of 
Edinburgh, with a view of inducing them to do all in their power, by regular 
attendance and otherwise, to contribute to the well-being of the Society. 
The Secretary read a communication which he had received from the 
secretary of the Liverpool Veterinary Medical Association, requesting the 
members to consider a resolution passed at a recent meeting of that society. 
The resolution was to the effect—“ That the members of the Liverpool 
Veterinary Medical Association were not prepared to submit to the 
profession the name of any gentleman as a substitute for any of those 
gentlemen who retire by rotation in May, 1880, from the Council of the 
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.” 
Some discussion on this subject ensued, and the members were unani¬ 
mously of the opinion that, while some of the gentlemen referred to in the 
above resolution deserved their support, the Association should take steps 
to secure the better representation of the Scottish section of the profession. 
The Secretary was desired to thank the secretary of the Liverpool Veteri¬ 
nary Association for his communication, and to reply to this effect. 
Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Borthwick, and the Secretary were appointed 
a Committee to issue circulars to the holders of the veterinary certificate 
of the Highland and Agricultural Society, pointing out the advisability 
of at once obtaining the diploma of the Royal College of Veterinary 
Surgeons, as a means of qualifying themselves to vote at the next 
election of members of Council. 
Mr. Rutherford exhibited a patent composite horseshoe. The shoe 
was of a material which somewhat resembled in appearance and pro¬ 
perties gutta peroha. It had been made and patented at considerable 
expense, and was stated to be very durable, besides having other advan¬ 
tages. It was fixed to the hoof, not in the ordinary manner, but by 
means of screw nails. He had caused the shoes to be worn on horses 
doing only halt work, and found that they did not last more than three 
days. 
Professor Walley showed the oesophagus of a three-year-old cart colt, 
which was immensely dilated. The case occurred in the practice of 
Messrs. Corbett and Pringle, Newcastle, the animal having been pur¬ 
chased by the owners the day prior to death, and turned into a grass park 
for the night. When seen by Messrs. Corbett and Pringle he was in a 
desperate°condition, breathing with great difficulty, coughing violently, 
