ALUMNi ASSOCIATION OF THE A. Y. C.-ITS HISTORY. 161 
strength, tend to deteriorate and break down their and our physical 
structure. The numbers filling these positions should be largely 
increased in and contiguous to our large cities, and from no class 
could they secure more able men than from the true veterinary 
profession. Another now fills the position of Meat Inspector, and 
I am sure but a few years will elapse when the history of this 
Association will count scores of her men filling similar positions. 
I need not dwell on its importance, for it is an hourly question 
with almost every living being on the face of earth. When it be¬ 
comes a position to be doled out by a partisan master, it alike be¬ 
comes a position of a mercenary character, and bribery and cor¬ 
ruption soon rob it of its value to the people. This is why it 
belongs within the limits of our domain, for few men with a pro¬ 
fessional reputation at stake would stoop to such degrading influ¬ 
ences. 
One of our alumni fills a position as veterinary surgeon to 
the police department in one of our large cities. While the scope 
of his usefulness may be limited, still in time it will prove a 
necessity, and it marks a broader recognition of the profession 
that is gratifying to behold. 
The large number of monied men now turning their attention 
to stock-growing in our western prairie lands is destined to become 
one of the most gigantic interests of this great country, and where 
such large interests are at stake much precaution will be taken to 
preserve and foster them. In this light, two from within our walls 
have been called; one in a short season has brought back to us 
the most remarkable volumn of statistics as to the value, methods, 
dangers, complications, etc., of the operation of ovariotomy, that 
is now extant in this country. Ile proved beyond doubt that the 
operation through the flank is not the best; that through the vag¬ 
ina was the quickest performed, and greatly added in a shorter 
time to the value of the animal in market, which of course is the 
prime question in the cattle-growing business. The dangers of 
contagious and infectious disease in such avocations are highly 
important, and the work of one competent surgeon, among such 
large numbers of animals, would prove in such times of incal¬ 
culable value, and the need grows larger each day. These posi- 
