436 
W. H. HOSKINS. 
eleventh hour vigilance has resulted in the stamping upon our 
western herds a disease whose ravages are calamities and far 
reaching in every sense of the word. Had the warnings of this 
Association been accepted years ago, our veterinary sanitary police 
would have averted this danger, and made our western territory 
the greatest positive source of wealth of our nation, in maintaining 
a class of animals from whose limits the civilized world have 
looked for a partial sustenance. The narrow views of a large 
proportion of our national legislators, whose greatest ambition 
during their first term was to plan for a second one, by securing 
for the creeks and rivulets a share of the gigantic appropriations 
for river and harbor improvements, or by securing an appropri¬ 
ation for their town or borough to build a post-office, that had 
not a single shadow of excuse as a necessity, and their second 
term was for the purpose of lining their own pockets with the 
ill gotten spoils of the most profligate government in the world ; 
while the grave questions that imperil our people as a nation of 
power, were flagrantly overlooked or turned aside. The influence 
and bearing the outbreak may have on our greatest and truest 
wealth cannot be estimated, but to-day clouds are gathering over 
the nations of Europe, that threaten to endanger this most 
prominent interest of the United States. While it is yet east of 
the Mississippi, I trust that efforts will be made and encouraged 
by this Association in making it a barrier for the great western 
reserve, for, should it ever reach there, America has not money 
or means large enough to eradicate it, and it must then become 
a national scourge. 
o 
Much has been said for and against the formation of State 
Veterinary Associations. Much has been done on the part of 
qualified members of the profession to belittle and discourage 
the efforts of those who sought to make them valuable and per¬ 
manent institutions. Directly and indirectly have these influ¬ 
ences found expression in dissuading members from joining them. 
Few have been the arguments advanced why such a position was 
assumed, and of these scarce one has failed but to fall powerless 
of its own weight. These associations are and should be the 
recognized authority on veterinary subjects in every State, and 
