478 
D. Y. DIXON. 
Astor House, Hew York city, with the object of organizing an 
association, whose membership should not be confined to any 
State or section, but which would have for its object the drawing 
together, in closer union, of all members of the profession wherever 
practicing in the United States. 
Thirty-eight gentlemen composed the convention, and the 
result of their deliberations was a permanent organization, the 
adoption of a constitution and code of laws and the election of a 
board of permanent officers. In the minutes of their meeting we 
find that, “ after considerable discussion the name, United States 
Veterinary Medical Association was adopted.” 
From the same source we learn that, “ several interesting 
papers were read, after which the convention adjourned.” It had 
remained in session two days, viz : June 9th and 10th, 1863, and 
must be considered the first regular meeting of the Association. 
From this time forward, meetings were held annually, and 
after a time semi-annually, the third Tuesday in March and Sep¬ 
tember of each year, the meeting in September being considered the 
anniversary meeting. These meetings have been held regularly 
up to the present time, alternately in New York and Boston, 
with the single exception of the year 1876, when the anniversary 
meeting was held in Philadelphia. 
During this time the Association has accomplished a great deal. 
It has established a closer fellowship among its members than 
they otherwise would have enjoyed. It has held together the 
active workers of the profession, especially those of the East, 
and through their contributions to science, and their successful 
efforts to advance the profession in this country, it is to-day rec¬ 
ognized as the representative body of the profession in America, 
wherever the science is cultivated in all the outside world. At 
home its leadership has been questioned, and in some parts dis¬ 
puted, but of the merits of its would-be rival many of you are 
better judges than myself, and to attempt comparison would 
not be becoming at this time. We do not claim infallibility; the 
Association has made its mistakes, as like institutions are bound to 
do, especially when the work performed is that of the pioneer- 
Although this is its twenty-first anniversary, its active member- 
