508 ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
It would also do away with the necessity for instituting a prac- 
tical examination. He would recommend that more publicity 
should be given to the proceedings connected with the Col- 
lege. Such a course w r ould tend to popularise the profession. 
In reply to a question by Mr. Cowie, 
Professor Gamgee said he thought the best way to carry 
out the practical examination w r onld be to let the pupils pass 
from it to the oral examination, when the two examinations 
might be weighed together. This point, however, could be 
settled afterwards, as a matter of detail. The report was 
merely the proposal of the Committee to the Council, and 
they were waiting for more information before settling the 
method of carrying out the examination. 
Mr. Ernes characterised the report as a very able one, 
perhaps more so than any that had been previously presented 
to the Council. He was sorry nothing had really been 
accomplished, as the practical examination was not yet 
carried out. It was more than a quarter of a century ago 
that the charter was obtained; a generation of veterinary 
surgeons had almost passed away ; but so far as the benefit it 
had conferred on the profession was concerned it had not 
been, up to the present time, worth the parchment on which 
it was written. It was originally intended that the charter 
should be supplemented by an Act of Parliament ; but twenty 
years elapsed before any steps were taken in that direction, 
and then the attempt was a futile one. Last year, at the 
annual meeting, the necessity for instituting a practical ex- 
amination was strongly alluded to ; but it was said, if the 
matter were left in the hands of the Council, no doubt 
justice w r ould be done. What, however, had the Council 
really done? It was January before they adopted the reso- 
lution with regard to the practical examination,, when it was 
too late to carry it into effect. Why were not more of the 
suggestions thrown out at the last annual meeting attended 
to ? Why was not the examination limited to once a year, 
so as to avoid such an expense as that at the examination 
before the last, when it cost something like £30 to examine 
one candidate? Another objectionable proceeding was the 
examination of a candidate twice, because it was thought he 
was nervous at the first. The adoption of written examina- 
tions would put an end to such things. Then, again, nothing 
had been done with regard to botany and microscopies, a 
knowledge of both of which was necessary for the proper 
performance of the duties of a veterinary surgeon. One step 
in the right direction had been taken, but no credit was due 
to the Council in respect to it. He alluded to the prelimi- 
