444 ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
Mr. Cowie said it would be too late if the subject 
were deferred until just before the next examination, 
but there would be plenty of time to discuss it before 
then. 
The President stated that at the past examination, amongst 
the candidates for the diploma was Dr. Ellis, of St. Pancras. 
He came before the Board as having been educated at the 
Veterinary College. He (the President) was not aware that 
any of the Examiners were acquainted with the nature of the 
circumstances which induced him to come before them for 
examination, and for a diploma. It unfortunately occurred 
that the Board did not consider that Dr. Ellis was sufficiently 
acquainted with the subjects connected with the veterinary 
profession to justify them in awarding him a diploma. 
Subsequently, on the following day the Chairman of the 
Board of Examiners received a letter from Dr. Ellis (which 
the Secretary would presently read), explaining his view of 
the subject. So far as the Examining Board were concerned, 
they were not prepared for any of the circumstances which 
seemed to have been brought to bear upon the examination. 
If it was merely intended by this gentleman that he should 
be made an honorary member of the Royal College of 
Veterinary Surgeons, some intimation should have been 
given of it, and then it would have rested with the Council, 
and not with the Examiners, to say whether his wish to 
become an honorary member should be acceded to or not. 
The Examiners had it not in their power to recommend that 
a diploma should be granted to any individual who was not 
acquainted with veterinary surgery. 
The Secretary read two letters which had been received 
from Dr. James Ellis, and stated that he had written to say 
that the matter would be laid before the Council at this 
meeting. 
The President said it had been discussed at the Examining 
Board, and it was resolved that a letter should be drawn up 
and sent to Dr. Ellis. 
(A copy of this letter was read.) 
The Twenty-eighth Annual Report for 1871 was then laid 
upon the table. 
After it had been read by the Secretary — 
Professor Brown said there were certain points in the 
report which he wished to bring before the notice of the 
Council, but, in order that he might speak on those subjects 
freely, and that the alterations which were necessary might 
be made, he should propose in the first place “That the 
