My dear Sir

I am much obliged by your valuable letter & the counsel it contains¹

As to the Association you shall not be troubled more about the presidency   As soon as it is formed we shall be glad to include your name among the numbers.²

I am glad that you like Sir Jas. Paget’s article, tho’ the comment of a high official to whom I gave it in proof, was that it was very nicely written, but “not strong enough”³   What you say as to the uselessness of argument & the necessity of giving people “telling instances” is I have no doubt true. The difficulty is that tho’ there are striking instances of direct benefit, it is difficult if one is quite candid (& so good a cause should not be fended otherwise) not to weaken their effect by admitting, concomitant sources of information beside experiment, or only partial success in the remedial result. Moreover our arguments are impregnable to those who have brains to consider, whereas our facts, however accurately & cautiously stated, are impudently contradicted, or at least spoken of as exaggerated & ex parte assertions.⁴ In a paper which Sanderson & I drew up at the time the Bill was under discussion, & which was signed by D^r Sharpey & all the teachers of physiology in the 3 Kingdoms, we gave are your several “special cases”.⁵ Animal parasites, ovariotomy, antiseptic treatment, are valuable instances, for which I am much obliged. They have not been forgotten & I will take care they shall be trotted out again to as good advantage as possible.

In January the enemy is to make his reply.⁶ In February we shall have I hope a useful paper from the side of the Animals by Mr Fleming (head of the veterinary department at the War Office) another medical one from D^r A Clark & perhaps by Mr Lister or Mr Bowman.⁷

I am, my dear Sir, | Yours very sincerely | P H Pye-Smith.

Thank you kindly for your postscript.