496 ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
The attention of the Council has also recently been directed 
to the Juries Bill, brought in by Lord Enfield, to which 
reference was made in October, 1869. 
The Parliamentary agents have been instructed that steps 
be taken with a view to members of the Royal College of 
Veterinary Surgeons obtaining an exemption from serving 
on Juries, and it is hoped that this reasonable demand may 
be favorably received. 
Two of the most important questions of the day in reference 
to the Veterinary profession, which have had the unceas- 
ing attention of the Council, have been, 1st, the introduc- 
tion of a uniform preliminary examination of the student, 
previously to his entrance at either of the established schools ; 
and 2ndly, that of a practical examination in addition to 
the oral one, when the student offers himself as a candidate 
for the diploma of the Royal College of Surgeons. 
A deputation from the Council of the Royal College of 
Veterinary Surgeons, consisting of the following gentlemen, 
viz. : The President, Professor Brown ; Messrs. Broad, Har- 
rison, Thacker, and the Secretary, had the honour of an in- 
terview with the Governors of the Royal Veterinary College 
on July 13th, 1869, on the subject of the preliminary 
examination. 
The deputation, having been introduced by Professor 
Spooner, explained the object they had in view in waiting 
upon the Governors, viz., the advisability of more stringent 
measures being adopted in the matriculation examination 
of students, previously to their entrance to the school, 
and that an independent preliminary examination should 
be instituted by an educational body, such as the College 
of Preceptors, together with the adoption of a system 
which could be extended to the Edinburgh and Glasgow 
Colleges; and that the authorities of those institutions 
should be asked to institute similar examinations. 
Their aim was the introduction of a better class of educated 
men into the profession. 
The Chairman, J. W. Bozanquet, Esq., replied, that the 
Governors concurred in the views taken by the deputation 
for a better class of men being introduced into the pro- 
fession. He would suggest that a proper representation 
should be sent to the other schools, soliciting them to take 
the same course, when the Governors would do all in their 
power to aid the progress of education. 
The deputation were also informed that the College of Pre- 
ceptors had been asked and were fully prepared to entertain 
the subject of the preliminary examination, and were further 
