NORTH OF ENGLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 511 
Scotland. This certificate, besides being illegal, is entirely anti- 
union in its effects, and has done the Royal College much harm. 1 
am glad to observe, however, that the members who hold the Highland 
certificates, and who afterwards come forward for examination 
before the board of the Royal College, yearly increase ; and I would 
fain hope that as education advances, and the objects of our charter 
are more generally understood, the Royal College diploma will be 
considered indispensable. 
The Highland Society grant their certificate under the impression 
that they are conferring a direct benefit on veterinary science. 
Now I have long thought that if the conditions and objects of 
our charter were fully explained to the directors and members of 
the Highland Society, whether by circular or otherwise, they would 
see it to be their duty to discontinue the issue of the certificate alto- 
gether, as it must be evident to men of sense that though competition 
in teaching schools can only be beneficial, it is equally evident that 
competition in boards for granting diplomas must have quite a con- 
trary effect. I am well aware an abortive attempt has been made in 
this direction already, but that is no reason why it should not be 
repeated, and I am sure were the Society once convinced of the 
propriety of ceasing to grant their certificate, they would be equally 
ready to support the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons by every 
means in their power, as their sole object is to further the true 
interest of the veterinary profession. 
I now wish to say a few words respecting veterinary medical asso- 
ciations such as this, which are now very generally established all 
over the kingdom, and justly so, as they are most admirable insti- 
tutions ; and while I frankly admit the great amount of good they 
have done and are doing, I think, at the same time, their utility 
might be greatly extended by having some system of united action, 
something similar to that adopted by Chambers of Agriculture. 
The advantages which would be derived from a system of this 
sort are most apparent. Suppose any important subject was under 
deliberation by our governing body, or any sudden outbreak of a 
contagious disease had taken place, or any measures affecting our 
profession were in progress through Parliament, the subject could 
at once be taken up by every association in the kingdom, and reso- 
lutions passed and forwarded to Parliament or our governing body, 
as the case might be, the opinion of the entire profession being thus 
obtained with little more than a week’s notice. At present the 
associations meet all over the country, generally to discuss some 
subject fixed three months previously, and while one or two may 
discuss and pass resolutions on some important current event, the 
chances are that nine or ten other associations take no notice of it 
whatever ; whereas if resolutions were forwarded from each of the 
associations, it would bring to bear a pressure and power either on 
Parliament or on the Council of the Royal College which could not 
fail to be felt and acted upon. 
Do not think, gentlemen, that I in the least underrate the value of 
discussions such as we have at present on particular diseases ; but I 
