REGISTRATION. 
383 
site ; but since such list is not only imperfect but even erroneous 
in its entries, it became imperative to devise a method whereby 
some test might exist as to those who were entitled to be members 
of the chartered body, the Charter constituting all those who 
had received certificates from either of the recognised schools 
members of the chartered body, to be a nucleus , as it were, for the 
carrying out and perfecting a more complete organization of the 
veterinary profession, and improvement in its principles and prac- 
tice : for this purpose certain powers and privileges are ordained, 
and the manner in which the affairs of the body corporate are to be 
conducted are laid down. 
By a custom which has become a law, any unqualified party or 
parties who may vote or otherwise act in the proceedings directed 
under a charter, such as the one granted unto us, renders the acts 
of such meeting at which such unqualified person may vote or act 
null and of no effect. Hence it becomes of paramount importance 
to ascertain who are bona fide entitled to vote or act at any such 
meeting ; and though it is possible that there may exist those who 
are so lost to all honesty as to make a false return, yet let us hope, 
for the honour of human nature, that these will be of so rare an 
occurrence as not to militate against any open plan that may be 
proposed. There is many a man who would allow an inuendo or 
false statement to pass current to serve his own turn, but who would 
shrink from stating the same in black and white ; and no man is so 
ignorant but he knows the nature of and penalty for perjury , which 
a written statement would at once prove beyond denial. 
Every member of the profession alike benefits by the royal grant; 
and any who refuse to obey the powers granted thereby are guilty 
of insubordination to the laws under which they live and are pro- 
tected, and also of personal insult to those who are appointed to 
act under the provisions of that grant. Let them reflect for a mo- 
ment, and ask themselves, Whether it is doing as they would be done 
unto ] Can they suppose for a minute that all this trouble has been 
taken for any individual benefit or personal pleasure ? I issued 
750 circulars : to fold, seal, and direct these alone occupied upwards 
of three days of ordinary business duration. I say nothing of the 
ulterior labour of collecting, copying, arranging, and preparing the 
various matter for the formation of the list. Of these only 430 
have been returned, and 22 from the dead-letter office. Now, 
what has become of the remaining 300 1 If the parties to whom 
they were addressed had not been in existence, or not resident as 
addressed, the major part, if not all, would have found their way 
back, as the 22 from the dead-letter office have done. It may be 
possible that some thus addressed were not entitled to make re- 
turns, though their names were entered in the Veterinary College 
