586 ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
which the minutes of the two previous special meetings were 
read and confirmed. 
Mr. Ernes , alluding to the report on the cattle plague 
which had been presented to the Council, said he thought as 
it had been printed at the public expense, the public ought 
not to be required to pay for it. It was sold at 1 2s., but 
if any benefit were to be derived from a perusal of it, the 
Government ought freely to distribute it, or at all events present 
it gratis to the members of the veterinary profession. It was 
printed and got up at the public expense, from evidence 
obtained gratis from members of the profession, some of whom 
at the time of the Royal Commission came from different 
parts of the country ; he did not know whether their travelling 
expenses had ever been paid. 
Professor Brown : Yes, to all who applied for them. 
Mr. Ernes said he himself had not. He did not think it 
was fair that the profession should have to pay for the report 
as well as give evidence. He had lost a whole day, and had 
sent in a report of what he knew to the Royal Commission, yet 
now he was expected to pay 12s. for another report. It was a 
great anomaly and a disgrace that a medical man should be 
at the head of the veterinary department. It was treating 
the veterinary profession in away in which it was not treated 
anywhere on the Continent. 
Mr. Cowie thought inspectors at least ought to he supplied 
by the Government freely. 
Mr. Ernes said if it was necessary to have a motion, he 
would move that the Government should be asked to supply 
at least veterinary inspectors with copies of all their reports ; 
he would even go further, and say it was necessary to 
supply all breeders and cattle-owners. 
Mr. Ernes said the report was good in itself ; but in re- 
ference to the former report it was said on the Continent that 
the illustrations were exaggerated, or otherwise that the 
English cattle plague must have been something of a com- 
plication of the real cattle plague with the eczema. 
The President thought any application to the Government 
such as that proposed by Mr. Ernes would fail because other 
reports which members of Parliament would make applica- 
tion for, have to be paid for. 
Professor Brown hoped that no such motion would be 
made, because the Council would thereby only render itself 
ridiculous. 
Mr. Hunt supported Mr. Ernes’ view, that all inspectors 
ought to he supplied with all the information it was in the 
power of Government to give. He did not think it would he 
