THE APPRENTICESHIP CLAUSE. 
703 
Mr. Barclay, M.P , Mr. Shaw, and Mr. Fisher Hobbs, having 
then addressed the Council on this subject, Professor Sewell 
invited the members generally to visit the College, and inspect 
the arrangements already made for the reception of cattle-patients. 
He regretted the failure of diseased animals for investigation, 
which could only be obtained at the market price of butchers* 
meat, and of the Cattle Infirmary at Islington, which he had 
taken so much interest and pains in getting established. 
Mark Lane Express. 
THE VETERINARIAN, DECEMBER 1, 1846. 
Ne quid faisi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat. — C iceuo. 
In our present Number will be found two letters in favour of 
Veterinary Apprenticeship ; though one of them — that of Mr. Cle- 
ments — complains, and with reason complains, of the by-law re- 
garding apprenticeship as it affects him. 
With the practical arguments of Mr. Tombs, in illustration of 
the advantages of apprenticeship, we will not pretend to combat. 
They are argumenta ad hominem, admitting of no reply — home 
thrusts that cannot be parried. We are not, as Mr. Tombs ima- 
gines, ourselves adverse to apprenticeship. Led by what the 
College of Surgeons had done, and further instigated by a feeling 
towards our own schools, we certainly suggested — and we repeat 
the suggestion — whether three years’ engagement in the acquire- 
ment of professional knowledge would or could be any how made 
to answer the end of a five years’ apprenticeship. Mr. Tombs 
seems to think that the three years ought to be made four, consent- 
ing to give up three years of that term of which we had contem- 
plated yielding four. There is, therefore, but a year between us ; 
still, that year we feel to be an important one. We find we have 
no space left to discuss the question further here ; for the present, 
therefore, we leave it in the hands of the Council, not doubting 
but that, when they re-consider the matter in all its various 
bearings, they will come to- a settlement upon it conducive to the 
best interests of the veterinary profession. 
