ROYAL COLLEGE OP VETERINARY SURGEONS. 347 
to give an opinion as to whether the Royal College of Veteri- 
nary Surgeons could exist without the schools, or whether 
the schools could flourish without the College; nor did 
he wish to see the time when they would be called upon to 
solve such a problem. 
An idea prevailed in the profession that there was little 
or nothing which was worth preserving in the charter, and 
doubtless this was the cause of the apathy which existed 
among them. He agreed that it was desirable to have some- 
thing to battle for — something of practical importance to 
maintain— in the title of veterinary surgeon. They might, 
however, depend upon it, that there was more value in the 
Charter, in elevating veterinary science, than many had yet 
believed. They were there recognised as a profession, and by 
it "were entitled to call themselves (i veterinary surgeons.” 
It had been said that the charter gave no privilege; but he 
thought that this provision, rightly construed, was a great 
privilege. The individual who unjustly arrogated to himself 
the title of “ veterinary surgeon,” could at least be compelled 
by the law to relinquish the appellation. No man could, 
therefore, write up that title with impunity, unless he was a 
graduated member, and if the charter was inefficient in the 
application of a remedy to correct an evil of this kind, by the 
infliction of penalties, they needed only to blend together to 
obtain it. If the existing institutes would honestly co- 
operate, there would be no difficulty in obtaining penalties 
for the violation of that which the law had given them. 
With regard to the schools, it w T as not, perhaps, fit that 
he should say anything about the efforts which were made 
to send young men into the country who were worthy 
of being recognised as veterinary surgeons. He would, 
however, say this, that since that time twelvemonth he had 
had an opportunity of visiting most of the Continental 
veterinary schools, and he thought, without being guilty of 
egotism, he could take upon himself to say that our schools 
stood second to none in the world in practical information 
imparted to the pupils. It might be true that there were 
some things on the Continent which they might desire to see 
in operation here, but the profession in this country had 
many advantages which were denied to their Continental 
friends. Go where they would, speak to distinguished pro- 
fessors anywhere, all were ready to admit the practical know- 
ledge of the English veterinary surgeon. Often has this 
been found to exceed that of his brethren on the Continent ; 
and this circumstance was due, to a considerable extent, to 
the education which was imparted to the student. 
