THE PRIVILEGES OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 205 
watch over the interests of the veterinary profession, not only from 
the situation you now occupy as President of the Royal College 
of Veterinary Surgeons, but from the warm and devoted interest 
you take in every thing that will tend to raise and advance the 
interests of veterinary science. 
It is, I know, a subject of sincere congratulation to yourself, 
and must be to every well-wisher of our profession, that the first 
duty the Veterinary Committee undertook to perform has been 
successful, and that a Royal Charter of Incorporation has been 
obtained ; a Charter founded not “ upon the same plan and con- 
stitution as the Royal College of Surgeons,” but one which the 
profession may justly feel proud to call their own, and which, for 
its simplicity and extreme liberality, is both an object of envy and 
admiration. 
Whilst, however, we congratulate ourselves, and return our 
heartfelt thanks to Her Most Gracious Majesty and her Ministers 
for having declared that the veterinary art shall be made a pro- 
fession — her members solely and exclusively denominated vete- 
rinary surgeons, and shall henceforth have a share in the ad- 
ministration and regulation of their own affairs — yet I feel per- 
suaded that you are convinced that much still remains to be done ; 
and, although great and glorious advantages have for ever been 
secured for our profession, yet that, of the due fulfilment of the 
duties with which the Veterinary Committee were entrusted, only 
one-half has been accomplished, — the obtainment of an act of par- 
liament giving to the veterinary surgeon that protection and the 
public that security against illiterate and unqualified practitioners 
which each have the right to expect, combined with exemptions 
from serving parochial and other offices, have yet to be obtained. 
I have no doubt that you will agree with me in thinking that, 
before any very strenuous effort is made for the accomplish- 
ment of these important objects, it is not only wise but our duty 
to consider the present condition of our profession, and how far 
that condition may be improved by legislative enactment. 
If I am asked, What is the present state of the veterinary pro- 
fession 1 I should answer, That at no former period in the annals 
of veterinary science in this country did the members of the vete- 
rinary profession labour under greater depression or more need care- 
ful superintendence than at this moment. Men, who at consider- 
able expense have acquired their professional education, and who 
are endeavouring to obtain an honest livelihood, find that the patron- 
age and support of far too many are given to the man who walks 
the street with a horn in one hand and a twitch in the other, and 
who writes veterinary surgeon (because he is not one) over his 
door. Nor is this all that the educated veterinary surgeon has to 
VOL. XVIII. F f 
