SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
303 
vise the legislature on such subjects than the man who has 
made veterinary surgery and therapeutics his one subject of in¬ 
vestigation ? Who knows better than the veterinarian the ex¬ 
tent to which the public is imposed upon in the domestic ani¬ 
mal industry and traffic ? You should not let a chance go by 
to impress the great importance of such matters upon the minds 
of the members of our legislature from your districts, nor ne¬ 
glect to explain them when opportunity offers in the sessions 
of your farmers’ institutes. By so doing you will be rendering 
a lasting benefit to mankind and honoring your profession. 
There never was a time when the importance of controlling the 
spread of contagious diseases, and the protection of the human 
family from the use of diseased meats marketed by unscrupul¬ 
ous persons, was more urgent than just now. . For the first, herds 
and dairies should be placed under the supervision of skilled 
veterinarians. For the second, the system of meat inspection 
imposed by foreign and home governments must be extended to 
every slaughter-house and meat market in the land. It will 
not suffice to establish inspection in the larger towns and ne¬ 
glect the smaller, for the real danger lies there. There is where 
the unthrifty and diseased cattle that no packing house would 
use find a market, are butchered and peddled out by the quar¬ 
ter. Be it said to the everlasting shame of some butchers, that 
they buy such meat with the full knowledge of its condition, 
because it can be gotten very much cheaper, and because there 
is no way in which they can be caught at it and punished for 
the crime. I draw these conclusions both from personal obser¬ 
vation and reliable information from different sources. I have 
no particular method or pet hobby to suggest as to how to ac¬ 
complish these two vital things, but I say to you, that when 
this body shall have found a way and enforced it by the aid of 
intelligent legislation, you will have rendered a greater service 
to your neighbors, both with respect to person and property 
than veterinary skill can possibly render under present condi¬ 
tions.” 
Dr. S. H. Johnston opened the discussion, and spoke on the 
subject of legislation ; thought we should have something in 
the way of a practice act , but did not believe it advisable to 
attempt any radical measure. 
Dr. Gibson followed, saying we should have such a law, and 
as one of our members (Dr. Koto) is a member of the House, 
now is a good time to try for it ; said Dr. Koto would like to 
hear the voice of the association on the subject. 
