400 
EDITORIAL. 
discussion of the matter, a general meeting was recently called, 
at which Dr. R. W. Finlay was entrusted with the pleasant task 
of reading a paper on the importance and the requirements of the 
subject. This paper is given to our readers in our present num¬ 
ber, and will be found well deserving the vote of thanks which 
was tendered to the author. 
While we record the meeting as reported to us by the Secre¬ 
tary of the association, we cannot refrain from remarking, with 
regret, upon the poor attendance, and the apparent lack of inter¬ 
est shown by the members. But that is not all. Is it only in 
this society that this fault may be observed? is not the same 
remark applicable also to other veterinary societies ? Are not all 
derelict in the same manner, and is not even the national body of 
veterinarians, the United States Veterinary Association itself, 
subject to a similar indictment ? 
Every one of us will recognize this fact, and many amongst 
us must acknowledge that they themselves are among the delin¬ 
quents. Nor, unfortunately, is it only on the lack of attendance 
upon the meetings that we can recriminate. 
There seems to be in many among us a condition of apathetic 
indifference which is highly detrimental to our advancement and 
subversive of our interests. If we look at our veterinary periodi¬ 
cals, do we find in them any satisfying evidence of ambitious la¬ 
bor on the part of our veterinarians ? How many records of per¬ 
sonal investigations do we meet with; how many reports of valu¬ 
able and interesting cases are printed; how much and what can 
we show of good and solid work on the part of our quite numer¬ 
ous practitioners; or how many of our successful professional 
men become able and acceptable correspondents ? In our societies 
the attendance is not only always small, but seldom do we listen 
to the reading of interesting papers or valuable statements. There 
is a condition of apathy, of indifference, which holds our profes¬ 
sion back and necessarily and undoubtedly prevents the public at 
large from appreciating ns at our proper value. 
The veterinarian of to-day is no longer the “horse doctor” of 
twenty-live years ago. He can no longer be satisfied with the 
ordinary routine of his practice; the progress made by the pro- 
