448 NORTH OF IRELAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
my professional brethren generally, and to this Association in particular. 
In the term of life I have indicated I have in all my writings, addresses, 
and votes endeavoured to ventilate and keep prominently to the front the 
various subjects and reforms which the more advanced thinkers have con¬ 
sidered were necessary to the wellbeing of our common profession. We 
have carried during the last few years to a successful issue ten important 
measures, which I have enumerated in one of my papers; we have four 
other important measures, as I have also shown, and which I am anxious 
to see if possible carried to a successful issue before I die. They are:— 
1st. “ The Penal Clause 2nd. “ The Apprenticeship Clause3rd. “ The 
Preliminary Examination of the Student when he enters College placed in the 
hands of the Council4th. “ The Court of Examiners composed of veteri¬ 
nary surgeons only.” Hope is strong within me that these things will be 
done, but in respect to what has been done, allow me to say we are much 
indebted to our late President, Sir Frederick Fitzwygram, and to the 
various veterinary medical associations in developing public opinion, and 
bringing a sort of pressure from without upon the Council, and we shall 
look to you to lend us your powerful aid in future. At this very moment 
they are exercising this power (and let me tell you here they are a power, 
and a great support to those members of Council who urge on popular 
measures) by memorialising the Council to at once apply to Parliament to 
obtain an Act of Parliament to secure for the profession the penal clause ! 
At the last meeting of Council, a fortnight ago, Mr. Fleming moved that 
we apply to Parliament for this Act, Mr. Whittle seconded it, and I 
supported it. A committee was appointed to draw out a form, and a rough 
draft will be laid before the Council at our next meeting in July, when it 
will be discussed. I feel little doubt there will be severe opposition to it, 
and it will materially strengthen the hands of those members who are in 
favour of progress if this and every other association will petition the 
Council to apply and if possible obtain for our profession this just and 
long-desired measure. The Lancashire Veterinary Medical Association, 
at their meeting last week, took action. They unanimously decided to 
memorialise the Council to this effect, and offered to contribute their quota 
of the expense; the Yorkshire Association has done the same. You will 
perceive by this that you can serve your profession in more ways than one; 
but this is when an influential body like you decide resolutely to act your 
part. I wish here to remind you that there are many ways in which 
these associations can render important services to the profession generally, 
as well as to each member individually. They create a better opinion and 
feeling within us towards each other ; they tend to beget and develop a 
more correct knowledge of each other’s disposition and intellectual status ; 
this fosters a better acquaintance, a greater confidence and friendship. 
They have a great power in restraining within us any desire for detraction 
or a feeling of animosity arising from envy or jealousy ; they often bring 
about a better understanding between competitors, changing enmities for 
fast friendships; they give opportunities to correct false and unjust im¬ 
pressions or opinions of each other’s character, and which may have rankled 
in the breast and tended to embitter each other’s life; but besides all this 
we improve one another, become better practitioners, and more useful mem¬ 
bers of society. This must follow as the day does the night when we frequently 
meet, discuss, and interchange ideas on scientific and practical subjects in a 
frank and proper spirit. I have never attended a single meeting without de¬ 
riving some information which has benefited me, and I could take home with 
me and apply it to some useful purpose, and in this way the associations 
have laid me under a deep debt of gratitude to them. In conclu¬ 
sion, Jet me beg of you most earnestly to remember—that every- 
