372 LONDON PROFESSORS AND EDINBURGH GRADUATES. 
decline and ultimate death of so brilliant and promising a 
child as the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons would be 
matter of regret to all, and to none more than myself. It is 
to be hoped that such a dire catastrophe is far distant. I 
trust that its guardians will obtain the best medical advice 
in or out of London, that its existence may be prolonged to 
the greatest possible period, so that the immense and in- 
calculable advantages which it has already conferred upon 
the veterinary profession may be yet increased, and the debt 
of gratitude due from the united body be fully paid. 
But, Sir, you proceed to account for this deplorable 
apathy — this miserable defalcation — which characterises the 
meetings of the corporate College, by the non-acknowledg- 
ment of supremacy on the part of the Edinburgh School of 
Veterinary Medicine. Why that School should be called 
upon to bend the knee of submission, and “ acknowledge the 
supremacy” of a body without a home, and which at best 
has but a shadowy existence, and been of questionable utility, 
is a matter upon which I leave the reader to decide. 
I respect the feeling, Sir, which prompts you to desire a 
reunion of all parties ; such a consummation is devoutly to 
be wished. One would naturally think that the election of 
Professor Dick to the office of President of the Council 
would have been a step in the right direction ; but. Sir, 
whether the Professor would accept the intended honour 
“ on certain conditions” or without the imposition of any 
conditions at all, is a subject upon which I am in entire 
ignorance. 
I cannot but subscribe to the truth of the following 
remarks, and which, coming from so high an authority as 
yourself, it is to be hoped will have due weight. You 
proceed to say, “We cannot help thinking, — and we know 
there are not a few who think with us, — that our College, as 
it stands, partakes rather too much of the hole-and-corner 
system.” There is no doubt, Sir, about the absolute cor- 
rectness of this statement ; and if more liberal measures were 
resorted to, and more liberal language made use of when 
speaking of members of another school, there would not be 
that apathy in the veterinary profession which you. Sir, in 
common with many more, so much deplore. 
Professor Spooner, in a speech reported to have been 
delivered by him at the annual general meeting of the Royal 
College of Veterinary Surgeons, among other things, says, 
cc He thought the report should not issue from the Council 
without any mention of the fact that the Edinburgh School, 
so far from having in any way yielded to the sentiments of 
