210 
COMPLAINT OF A VETERINARY PUPIL. 
ship with a veterinary surgeon, should attend the College for four 
sessions ; but that, in the event of such regulation being carried 
into effect, there would be a Board of Examiners formed by the 
College, who would examine all pupils who had attended for two 
sessions at the College, and grant diplomas to all those they might 
consider qualified, and that such diplomas would in every respect 
render its possessor a “ qualified” veterinary surgeon ; in fact, would 
be just the same as those heretofore given. Now I, in common 
with many others, have since learned that such diplomas are 
worthless, and that, in order to obtain a proper diploma, it will be 
necessary to attend the College for double the time I was informed 
on entering: this I consider as most unjust on the part of those 
who must have been well aware they could not perform that 
which they were promising. I would here take the liberty to 
remark, that, whilst students of human medicine can go up for 
examination at the end of three years*, it appears very strange 
that the veterinary student must remain four years at his studies 
before he is similarly qualified. If the Council were to settle on 
three years instead of four for non-apprentices, I have no doubt 
but that it would be productive of satisfaction to all parties, and 
to none more than, 
Sir, your most obedient servant, 
A Non-apprentice. 
P.S. The students that entered the College this year are simi- 
larly situated as those of last. 
Royal Veterinary College, London, 
March 20, 1848. 
* This is an error. Candidates for examination at the Royal College of 
Surgeons must have been engaged “ not less than four years” in the acquire- 
ment of professional knowledge. — Ed. Vet. 
