108 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Their fond hopes and desires are crushed — their progress and 
advantages sacrificed, and tha^ perhaps for ever. 
We have been led into this train of thoughtwhile reflecting on 
the consequences connected with the notices of motion which 
were given at the last meeting of the Council of the Royal Col- 
lege of Veterinary Surgeons, and which we publish in another 
part of our journal. From these it would appear that the 
governing power of the profession is about to revise its code of 
bye-laws, with a view to the diminution of the fee now paid 
by the pupil for his examination and admission into the body 
corporate. That this is a wise step, and one likewise which 
can be taken without impairing either the strength or efficiency 
of the Court of Examiners, or permanently restricting the re- 
quirements of the Council for the working of the Charter, we 
have never doubted, no more than we have the desirability of 
its being accomplished with as little delay as possible. 
In giving expression to these sentiments so frequentl} 7- as we 
have done, it is satisfactory to know that we have been but the 
true exponents of the feelings and wishes of the profession as 
a whole, and that throughout we have laboured for its inte- 
rests not our own. “ Those who are in it must be of it,” 
have become as familiar to our ears as “ Household words.” 
We are told, and which agrees with our opinion, that there 
must be no middle class standing between farriers on the 
one side, and legalized members of the profession on the 
other ; partaking, as it were, of the nature of both, and which 
there would be, if the schools should act for themselves, and 
become independent of the enactments of the present charter. 
Men educated for the profession, and in every way worthy 
to join its ranks, must not be thrust aside by injudicious 
legislation. The name of Veterinary Surgeon ought to have 
but one meaning ; and it should be a sure guarantee that its 
possessor is both a legalized and a graduated member of our 
body. Thus faith will be kept with the public, and faith 
also with ourselves, for until this be done, the onward pro- 
gress of Veterinary Science must be hindered, and the phrase 
will practically become as unmeaning in its import as it is a 
now hackneyed one. 
