22 
EDITORIAL. 
profession and ambitious as we are of its elevation and progress 
in America, we must appreciate, which is the influence that the 
appearance of these various diseases have had upon the apprecia¬ 
tion of veterinary science—already illustrated by the steps which 
are being taken in various States for the appointment of State 
Veterinarians. Laws are presented to the various Legislatures, 
funds are liberally provided, and regularly educated veterinarians 
are appointed to positions of trust, which, if properly attended 
to, will guard us against the spreading of contagious diseases 
which we can import from Europe, and specially from England, 
as has been the case in this Portland outbreak. We cannot help 
observing, however, that so far as our knowledge goes, the 
great States of the East remain as yet unaffected by this be 
nignant contagion. Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Wyoming Territory, 
Maine, already have, or will soon have, their State official vet¬ 
erinarians; but New York, Massachusetts, and, we believe, 
Pennsylvania, have not. Comments upon this condition of af¬ 
fairs are unnecessary. Action, however, ought to be taken— 
unless, unsatisfied with what contagious diseases we already have, 
our authorities wait for the importation of rinderpest before tak¬ 
ing the proper steps to establish an adequate sanitary veterinary 
service. 
UNITED STATES VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
The semi-annual meeting of the above Association was re¬ 
cently held in Boston at its usual place, and we feel it a duty to 
record that there never was a larger meeting, nor one where more 
interest was exhibited by the members present. We publish the 
full account sent to us by the Secretary, and we have no doubt it 
will be carefully read and appreciated by our readers. 
Amongst the important subjects which were presented, one 
received the principal attention of the meeting, as it was ex¬ 
pected it would; it was the question of the outbreak of foot and 
mouth disease in Maine. Important statements were made by 
the veterinarians acquainted with two of the quarantine stations, 
at Garfield and for the port of Boston. Serious inquiries were 
made by State Veterinarian Dr. Bailey, and a severe vote of cen- 
