294 
SITTINGS OF THE COUNCIL. 
out to be serious drawbacks] (For, as to the performance of such 
an operation, that we say nothing about, taking it for granted 
there is no more difficulty about spaying than there is about 
castrating, when once the modus operandi has been surgically 
described and pointed out.) Will the operation, which of course 
will render the cow barren, prolong her period of lactation to 
double or treble the natural term ] Will the quality of the milk 
become improved in consequence of it] Will the barren cow 
fatten more kindly after she has become dry] since, we appre- 
hend by no means whatever can her milk ever be restored. And 
will cow beef thereby be rendered equal in tenderness and flavour 
to ox ] For, unless all this can be insured, the operation cannot 
be said to succeed ; or only to succeed in part, supposing it to have 
the effect of protracting the milking period only. This alone, 
however, to cow-keepers in our large towns would be, probably, a 
very great boon ; a consideration likely to induce them to have 
frequent, if not constant, recourse to the operation. We would 
call Professor Simonds’ attention to this subject. Prominently as 
he is engaged in cattle practice and research, this is a subject 
that might turn out well worth his while to investigate. He, 
and others who may desire it, will find full particulars as to the 
desirability of the operation, the period and age when it is best 
performed, and the results that have been obtained in the ex- 
periments M. Charlier has already instituted, in the volumes of 
The Veterinarian named, under the heading “ Spaying or 
Castration of Milch Cows.” 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNCIL OF THE ROYAL 
COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
Sitting of October 15, 1849. 
Present, — The President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, 
Messrs. James Turner, Wilkinson, Ernes, Withers, 
Burley, Silvester, Stanley (V.P.), Robinson, Pritchard, 
Mayhew, Arthur Cherry, and King. 
The minutes being read and signed, the Report from the Com- 
mittee appointed to consider the Bye Laws was made, and the 
result of their labours, in the form of a new code of Laws, was sub- 
mitted to the Council ; at the same time it was stated, that the ob- 
