THE APPRENTICESHIP CLAUSE. 
641 
of the first object, comes the by-law enacting that “ no person shall 
be admitted as a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Sur- 
geons, after 1st January, 1848, who has not served an apprentice- 
ship of three years to some member of the College in regular 
practice during the whole of that period*.” And this by-law it 
is which has, as indeed might have been expected, given so much 
offence to the veterinary schools, not only because it has upset 
any and every qualificatory test they might have imposed upon or 
been content to receive from the candidate; but because it has 
thrown difficulties in the way, which never existed before, of obtain- 
ing pupils. It has, therefore, been the object of the schools to get rid 
of this obnoxious by-law ; and so we find, as one of the clauses to 
be introduced into our Charter as proposed to be altered by the 
Governors of the Veterinary College, that “ NO apprenticeship 
shall be necessary previous to the examination or admission of a 
candidate” for membership. 
Now, that the standard of qualification for examination or mem- 
bership, such as it was heretofore, did require heightening — -that 
there were too many instances of young men obtaining diplomas 
certifying that they were “ duly qualified to practise the veterinary 
art,” who turned out any thing but creditable practitioners, we opine 
will neither be doubted nor disputed : the question, therefore, the 
Council — in framing the by-laws — had to consider was, since it was 
obvious the standard of qualification required raising, how or in 
what manner this could, with most advantage to the rising mem- 
bers of the profession, be carried into effect. 
For our own part, we must confess we have a sort of antiquated 
feeling of respect about us for all old customs , and that reverential 
feeling seems much enhanced when the old custom has descended 
from our forefathers down to our very selves. It is true, ap- 
prenticeship has lost somewhat of its universality ; for in Charles 
the First’s time, we are informed by Sir Kenelm Digby, so inex- 
clusive was the practice, that “ many rushed into the ministry as 
being the only calling that they could profess ivithout serving an 
apprenticeship .” Still, apprenticeship in our day is general enough 
to shew that no mean advantages are derivable from it. The boy 
* Sec. ii, No. 2, of the by-laws. 
VOL. XIX. 4 S 
