264 
JAMES D. HOPKINS. 
REPORTS TO THE COMMITTEE ON DISEASES OF THE UNITED 
STATES VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
By James D. Hopkins, D.V. S., Territorial "Veterinarian, J. C. Meyer, Ji., 
M.D., D.V.8., Cincinnati, Ohio, and B. MoInnes, Jr., V.8., Charleston, S.C. 
Dear Sir. —Your letter of the 10th is at hand. I sincerely 
regret that official duties prevent my attendance at the annual 
meeting of the Association. Therefore you will do me the favor 
to express my best wishes to the members present. Also my ap¬ 
preciation of the objects of the Association, and the hope that 
every gentleman present may be benefited by the intelligent dis¬ 
cussion of the many diseases which afflict our domestic animals. 
This subject has proved a very interesting one, and occupied 
a prominent place in the discussions of agricultural and stock¬ 
growing circles throughout the country. The application of 
sanitary science, as applied to the prevention of disease among 
domestic animals, has made an immense advance in this country 
within the last five years; and this advance is due to the spread 
among the people of sound scientific knowledge of disease and the 
means of its prevention, through the untiring efforts of those gen¬ 
tlemen who, years ago, established, in the face of much opposition 
and discouragement, veterinary colleges, where it was made pos¬ 
sible for worthy youths to obtain a thorough training in this 
branch of medical science. 
These young men, trained in sanitary science, have located in 
different parts of our country. At first they met with great diffi¬ 
culty in overcoming the prejudices and preconceived notions of 
stock-growers as to the different ailments afflicting domestic 
animals. They have also met the opposition of the ignorant char¬ 
latans, who, having assumed the title of veterinary surgeon, preyed 
on a credulous public, and by their utter disregard of respecta¬ 
bility and integrity, brought the honorable title they had appro¬ 
priated into contempt. 
The spread of contagious pleuro-pneumonia among the cattle 
of the Western States during the past two years, and Texas fever 
last year, has shown to the people the necessity of sanitary laws 
