EDITORIAL. 
167 
professional friends, requesting their opinions or objections. To 
this date we have heard nothing. 
Feeling, as we do, that much good can be done to all, while 
living, or to our families after we have gone to the land of ever¬ 
lasting rest, we take this occasion to refresh the minds of 
the members of the profession, who, we believe, have merely 
overlooked the question through the numerous cares of active 
practice. 
Of course, to a certain extent we were not surprised at the 
apparent indifference that our first request received ; and we 
fancy that if even a few among us would heartily take the mat¬ 
ter in hand, the difficulties that may present themselves may 
prove very discouraging at first. Is this a reason not to try it ? 
Philanthropic ideas are not of a very general human ten¬ 
dency, and their realization means very often not only insur¬ 
mountable obstacles, but also very unpleasant and unsatisfactory 
results for those who have promoted them. What of that, if the 
object is good, and the will for success is there? 
Our object is not to benefit a few—it is for the good of all. 
It is not for the welfare and relief of any of us only when we 
live and are temporarily or perhaps for our entire professional 
life disabled ; it is also, and, in many instances, principally, for 
those that we may leave after us. 
How many of our friends could some of us name, who were 
taken off suddenly and left their wives, their homes, penniless. 
How manv could we also recall who have become unable to 
j 
continue the work of their practice from disease or accidental 
causes, and have remained for their families useless burdens, 
invalids to care for, without being able to help them. Are 
not those sufficient reasons to make the attempt ? 
The Physicians’ Mutual Association of New York counts 
to-day 1451 regular members, and hopes to reach 2000 before a 
few years have passed. To-day, after twenty odd years of ex¬ 
istence, it gives to the family of each member $1000 at his 
death. 
Will the veterinarians of America remain blind to the good 
