488 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
pects are that over 8o per cent, of the animals in infected herds may be 
saved by this method. Considerable quantities of serum will be used 
before winter, and we shall soon know definitely what results can be 
depended upon. 
In antitoxic serum we have a most valuable agent for the control of 
swine diseases, but it can best be used under professional supervision. 
The State should regard it as an invaluable addition to its resources for 
eradicating the disease from our territor3G If its application is left to 
the individual farmer, some will use it, but many more will neglect it; 
and swine diseases will continue their ravages with slight abatement! 
If the State adopts it and provides for its systematic use wherever the 
infection appears, and requires the disinfection of stock yards and stock 
cars, it will not be long before swine can be raised with safety and profit, 
and the fifty or one hundred millions of dollars which are now annually 
blotted out by this scourge, will go into the pockets of our farmers, in¬ 
creasing the wealth and prosperity of the nation. 
THE ARMY VETERINARIAN. 
You will learn from the report of the Chairman of the Committee on 
Army Legislation that nothing has been accomplished towards the 
organization of a proper corps of commissioned veterinarians for service 
in the army. The Chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs has 
been favorable to the necessary legislation, but the War Department has 
persistently objected, and has prevented the accomplishment of this re¬ 
form which has been urged for so many years by this association. Is 
it not incredible that in this practical and up-to-date country the War 
Department should insist upon being behind all other civilized nations 
in its organization and equipment of this branch of the service ? Why 
do those who control that department object to skilled, interested and 
responsible officers whose duty it would be to examine and pass upon 
the millions of dollars’ worth of horses that are purchased, and upon 
the other millions of dollars worth that are condemned as unfit for serv¬ 
ice? Why do they object to responsible experts who would have the 
authority to secure proper medicines and instruments for the treatment 
of sick and disabled animals, and to direct humane and intelligent 
treatment ? 
I shall not attempt to answer these questions in this address, but as 
the press and people of the country are asking for information as to wh^' 
the same department is antiquated and inefficient in some other respects, 
it is possible that Congress may 3^et undertake a reorganization on mod¬ 
ern lines. When that time comes, let us hope among other practical 
features there will be given to the army a commissioned veterinary 
service that will not only insure honest3^, economy, and intelligence in 
the purchase and treatment of animals, but that will give the veterina¬ 
rian and his family the same prospects of a pension in the case of injury 
or death that are enjoyed by other classes regularly connected with the 
military organization. 
CHANGE OF NAME. 
You will have an opportunity at this meeting to vote upon a proposi¬ 
tion to change the name of this association from the United States Vet¬ 
erinary Medical Association to the American Veterinary Medical Asso¬ 
ciation. This proposition is in line with the growth and development 
