994 WEST OF SCOTLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
very much to think there were gentlemen there who in reality 
would treat every application upon its own merits irrespective of 
the source whence it came or the backing it received. If he had 
approached it backed by a duke or a town council, very likely 
he might have obtained a charter ; but seeing he had obtained it 
simply and solely upon the statement he laid before the Council, 
he thought he was in duty bound to propose this toast. He 
could not forget the name of one now gone, who was one of ther 
leading members of the Council, and whose son he had the very 
great pleasure of seeing at this table. He. referred to their dear 
departed friend Mr. Lawson. He thought no man had so few 
enemies and so many friends as Mr. Lawson. Their departed 
friend was desirous on every occasion to help the willing and 
weak. He hoped the good example Mr. Lawson had set might 
descend to his son, and that also, as far as it could, be followed 
by him who now addressed them. He was exceedingly sorry he 
should for the first time have crossed swords with his brother 
Professor Williams ; but he hoped that they both would retire 
from the field having greater respect for each other. (Applause.) 
He was strongly in favour of educational reform, until they should 
have men as well educated as in the medical profession. He 
coupled the toast with the name of his friend Mr. Greaves, who 
had been a friend of nearly all present, and whom he thanked for 
having come down to Edinburgh to superintend the examination 
of the Glasgow students at the end of the session. (Applause.) 
Mr. Greaves responded as follows : — The Council consists of a 
body of men, as you know, which is appointed in accordance with 
our charter of incorporation. A moiety of the members are 
elected by ballot at the Annual General Meeting of the profes- 
sion, held on the first Monday in May, in London. According to 
the charter they are selected out of the body of the profession. 
They are men who stand eminent in the profession, as teachers, 
writers, or practitioners. They are twenty-four in number, and 
are elected for three years. There are sflso six Vice-Presidents. 
They are elected by ballot, by the members of Council, at the first 
meeting of the Council. They are elected for one year, and at 
the same meeting the President is elected. He is elected also for 
one year. You have been told that I have held that high office. 
To occupy the highest and most honorable position that any man 
can occupy as a veterinary surgeon is, I opine, no light honour. 
I hold it is a legitimate ambition for any man to aspire to, what- 
ever profession he may be engaged in. Then the duties of this 
body. Its duties are to keep a watchful eye over the profession 
generally, to assist in every legitimate and laudable way the ad- 
vancement of the profession, and to appoint the examiners. They 
(the Council) are the only legitimate body that have authority to 
appoint a board of examiners ; no other body of men have the 
power by law to grant diplomas. This Council have of late 
years been most earnestly engaged in the discussion of making 
an addition to the final examination, viz., a practical examination 
