142 ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
been most active in bringing it forward and yet had not 
attended their meetings, should, to a certain extent, weaken 
the power of the Committee in its attempt at improvement. 
The Council were one with Mr. Ernes in their desire, but 
what they recommended in the report was all that could be 
fairly done at present. They felt that it would be desirable 
to have a written examination and a practical examination 
on the dead subject, but there was almost insuperable diffi- 
culties to be overcome in making changes of that description. 
If the Council were willing to act upon the recommendations 
of the Committee, the question for them next would be how 
the practical examination was to be carried out. It would 
have been far better if Mr. Ernes had attended the meetings 
of the Committee, and discussed the matter there rather than 
waiting till the report had been drawn up, and then attempt- 
ing to throw cold water upon what they had done. He be- 
lieved if the recommendations of the Committee Were carried 
out the veterinary profession and the public at large would 
recognise that at last the Council were doing something 
practical to improve the profession. 
The report was then received. 
Mr. Morgan , in rising to move the adoption of the report, 
expressed his agreement with Mr. Ernes in considering that 
the question of yearly examinations was one of primary im- 
portance. In the eye of the other schools it was a grievance 
that the Camden Town school should be privileged to have 
two examinations a year. 
Professor Gamgee said if any other school had four students 
to be examined they might call the Board together at any 
time. Mr. Morgan was perfectly aware of that, but it was a 
subject for complaint that the whole of the examiners should 
be brought together and a day spent in examining one student 
from the Camden Town College. 
Professor Gamgee said a similar thing had happened at 
Edinburgh before now. 
Mr. Morgan said that such an occurrence must be detri- 
mental to the interests of the College, for the cost of the 
Christmas examination to the College exceeded the fees paid 
by the students. He should very much like to have a return 
with regard to those examinations for the last ten years, 
giving the number of pupils examined and the number 
rejected, with the amount of fees paid, and the cost. He 
believed if such a return was laid before the Council the 
Christmas examinations w r ould be soon abolished. His 
opinion was that the low state of the funds of the College 
was due in a great measure to such examinations. The 
