A MEMBER OF COUNCIL’S REPLY. 
507 
and every thing that emanates from the Edinburgh school, that 
there can be little doubt by whom the garbled statement is written. 
The facts are as follow : — 
The letters laid before the Sitting of Council, June 3d, were all 
connected with the examinations of the present year 1846, and had 
nothing whatever to do with the examinations of any party or 
parties of the former year. The diplomas requisite for the year 
1846 were dispatched in the month of May to Edinburgh, and as 
they have been so long since sent to the parties who were to de- 
liver them forth, the Council cannot be blamed for delay (if any) 
which has occurred without knowledge or consent on their part. 
With regard to the position of these “ unfortunate ” young men, 
of which so much is attempted to be made, the facts are equally 
simple. There are required by the Regulations for the Examina- 
tions of Students, certain certificates, which have to be given in 
at a stated period, before an examination can take place. In the 
case of these “ unfortunates ,” the required certificates were not 
sent by Professor Dick ; and, though every facility was afforded 
for their production, they have not been produced. These parties 
were, before the examination took place, duly protested against, 
and therefore the Council can have nothing to do with those who, 
by the omissions of others, or by their own want of care, are 
placed beyond the control or influence of the Council. How or 
by what means, therefore, the Council can be charged with in- 
justice towards these “ unfortunates ,” is a mystery ; and these 
parties must well know that, not having complied with the requi- 
site regulations, any examination they may have undergone is 
quite a gratuitous one, and only can be considered in the light of 
being done to please themselves. If it is “ justice” to give to 
these “ unfortunates ” diplomas, when they have not complied with 
requisite regulations, it must be “ injustice” to nearly two hundred 
other young men who have all complied with the regulations to 
the full. 
While on the subject of examinations, it may not be amiss to 
advert to another circumstance connected therewith ; namely, the 
applications made by four pupils of the Edinburgh school for a 
special examination. In the report of the sittings of Council held 
July 1st ( vide VETERINARIAN), will be found a statement of the 
decision of the Council. Another application has been made by 
part of the former applicants, to which a similar reply has been 
made. 
The power of calling a special meeting of the Board of Ex- 
aminers is entirely discretionary, and so much so that it has only 
been once exercised on the application of two known practitioners, 
one of upwards of fifty years’, the other of sixteen years’ standing. 
