SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
549 
claimed by a few enthusiastic automobile newspapers, he will 
form a rather expensive specimen. The higher he goes in 
value the more profitable becomes the vocation of the veteri¬ 
nary surgeon 5 so that we can afford to watch his upward 
bounds with complete complacency. When horses were selling 
for from $50 to $75 it was a questionable proposition whether 
more than two or three visits could be made upon such a 
patient at one disability ; but when the same horse. advances 
to $150 or $200, his owner will be glad to employ skilled assis¬ 
tance in order to have his valuable property returned to a con¬ 
dition of usefulness. This is but one element conspiring to 
the betterment of veterinary science. Better men have inspired 
o-reater confidence in the people ; better results from medical 
treatment have encouraged them to more frequently seek 
advice and help from the veterinarian, and a higher education 
along humanitarian lines has taught people to more seriously 
regard the dumb animals dependent upon them when sick or 
disabled. All of these circumstances result not only in financial 
profit to the veterinarian, but give to his calling honoi and the 
respect of his fellow men. 
u The State of New York has a greater veterinary population 
than any other. It is the pioneer in veterinary education and 
legislation, and there is no good reason why it should not con¬ 
tinue to be the leader in every advancing movement in this 
country. 
“ There is absolutely but one channel through which reforms 
can be accomplished, and our interests safeguarded, and that is 
the veterinary association. The literature of a profession may 
point out danger signals and opportunities foi advancement, 
but it requires an association to take hold and do the wor 
One man will see an abuse and rail at it, possibly make a spas¬ 
modic effort to correct it; but he has neither the time nor the 
ability to persevere long enough to accomplish any^real goo . 
A better example could not be found of the truth of this than 
the history of the efforts to effect legislation to place the army 
veterinarian upon a higher plane. Concerted attacks all o\er 
the country supporting the active exertions of the Committee 
on Army Legislation of the American Veterinary Medical I s- 
sociation have year after year gained a little until the last ses¬ 
sion of Congress all but gave us the coveted prize. Beginning 
with the opening of the next session the thread will be taken 
up just where it was left off—the same activity of the committee, 
the same pressure of individual members upon their representa- 
