30 PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 



National Charter for Scotland, empowering the Society to grant veterinary diplomas, 

 had been refused. It will perhaps be in the recollection of some members, that an 

 intluenlial deputation from the Society waited on the Lord President, at the Privy 

 Council Office, on the 24th of May 1876, with the view of urging the claims of Scotland 

 and of the Society for such a charter ; and that the decision of the Privy Council was 

 communicated to the Society on the 12th of December 1876. In that communication 

 no reasons were given for the adverse decision arrived at. It has, however, since come 

 to the knowledge of the Directors and committee that the Council of the Royal College 

 of Veterinary Surgeons thought it desirable to ascertain the feelings of those members 

 of the veterinary profession who had been educated in Scotch schools, with regard to 

 the Society application for a veterinary charter. A circular was accordingly addressed 

 to them. The result is embodied in a letter from Major-General Sir Frederick Fitz- 

 wygram to the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, dated 5th July 1876, and published in 

 the "Veterinarian" for June 1877. In that communication reference is made to objec- 

 tions urged by a deputation of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, at an inter- 

 view with his Grace on the 29th of May, five days after the Highland Society deputation 

 had been received. The letter adds: — "After that interview the Council of the 

 Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons addressed a circular to all members of the Royal 

 College of Veterinary Surgeons who hold the certificate of the Highland and Agricul* 

 tural Society in addition to the diploma of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. 

 These members are 428 in number. Replies have been received from 203 of these. 

 All except two object to the application of the Highland and Agricultural Society for 

 a veterinary charter. Among those who so object are the Principals of the three Scottish 

 schools. More recently, the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons 

 addressed a similar circular to all those members of the profession who were educated 

 in Scottish schools, but who hold only the diploma of the Royal College of Veterinary 

 Surgeons. So far as replies have been received, all these unanimously object to the 

 proposed application of tlie Highland and Agricultural Society. The Council of the Royal 

 College of Veterinary Surgeons have also endeavoured to ascertain the feeling of members 

 of the veterinary profession practising in Scotland. These number about 230. Replies 

 have been received from 116. All of these, except one, object to the application of the 

 Highland and Agricultural Society." The committee, having no reason to doubt the 

 accuracy of the statements contained in Sir Frederick Fitzwygram's letter, and believing 

 from them that the veterinary profession is opposed to the Society's application, were 

 recently reluctantly constrained to recommend to the Directors that the Society's 

 veterinary examinations should be suspended. The Directors approved of the recom- 

 mendation, and authorised a committee of the Society to enter into negotiations with 

 the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, through their president, Sir Frederick Fitz- 

 wygram. The result of these negotiations has been that articles of agreement between 

 the Society and the Royal College are in course of adjustment, with the view of the ad- 

 mission of holders of the veterinary certificates of the Society as members of the Royal 

 College of Veterinary Surgeons, on payment of certain fees, without being required to 

 submit to any further examination ; also for the purpose of terminating the examina- 

 tions heretofore held by the Society. Due provision will, however, be made for carry- 

 ing on tlie examinations of persons already admitted as students of the Society who may 

 hereafter elect or claim to be examined by the Society's examiners in preference to 

 submitting to examinations by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. These 

 parties will also be admitted members of the Royal College on payment of certain fees, 

 and without submitting to further examination. As soon as the articles of agreement 

 are finally adjusted, the document will be published for the information of the vete- 

 rinary profession. I cannot conclude without recording that, in my opinion, justice 

 has not been done to the Society. When lectures were established by the Society in 

 1823, the veterinary art was very imperfectly understood in Scotland; it was practised 

 in a rude and irregular manner, and the want of adequate science and proper system 

 in the treatment of diseases peculiar to animals, exposed agriculturists and others to 

 great inconvenience and loss. The establishment of the Edinburgh Veterinary School 

 was the means of obviating this serious evil, and above 1100 students have, during the 

 last fifty-five years, passed the ordeal of a strict examination, conducted under the 

 direction of the most eminent men of the medical faculty, and also of distinguished 

 veterinary surgeons. Many of those holding the veterinary certificate of the Society 

 are now disseminated over all parts of the country, in India, and in the colonies, carry- 

 ing with them the benefits of increased science and improved skill in the practice of their 

 profession. I should mention that these advantages have been secured to the public 

 without having ever drawn upon it for assistance or support, the Society having never 

 asked or received one farthing of public money on behalf of its veterinary department, 

 biit expended a large sum from its own funds. Its certificate conferred the high privi- 

 lege of eligibility for appointments in Her Majesty's service, and for all employment 

 competent to members of the veterinary profession. There are at present in Scotland 

 no fewer than four universities qualified to confer degrees in medicine, and it was surely 



