231 
THE VETERINARIAN, APRIL 1, 1851. 
Ne quid falsi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat. — Cicero. 
In our Journal for this month will be found the By-laws of 
the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, as passed by the 
Council at their sitting on the 29th January, and ratified and 
“ officially sealed” at their subsequent meeting, on the 12th 
February, 1851. This makes the third edition of the By-laws. 
The first by-laws were published “ at the suggestion of a re- 
spected friend,” in the eighteenth volume of The Veteri- 
narian ; the second, or “ revised” code of them, in the twen- 
tieth volume. The second proved an amendment on the first 
set of laws. But to the third code we must award more praise. 
It is not simply an amendment or improvement, but really 
amounts to an entire re-modelling of the laws, and upon a plan 
not more comprehensive only, but which in its detail bears 
upon its surface the more evident impress of being worked out 
by an artist. 
By-laws to public institutions are what wheels are to car- 
riages: they not only enable them to move, but direct the course 
their motions must take. A carriage is able to move forwards 
or backwards, or to turn round either to the right or left; but if 
an attempt be made to drag it sidewise or crosswise, it will 
meet with resistance, and if persisted in, will end in upset. 
So the corporate machine cannot work in opposition to its laws; 
if these be not respected, but, on the contrary, be violated 
and disregarded, the College will not remain long upon its 
foundations. This fundamental use of them it is that renders 
by-laws of the very first importance, and makes it a matter of 
such vital consequence that they be framed and concocted with 
wisdom and deliberation, so that, through their harmonious 
operation, the corporate machine may roll on smoothly and 
safely, and avoid or overcome such impediments and obstacles 
as it will be sure to meet with in its onward march towards 
perfection or completion. 
The by-laws before us may be said to be referable to, or to 
