THE ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
645 
a veterinary surgeon, to the manifest disgrace of the profession. 
At nineteen, at eighteen, and at seventeen, they have been sent 
into the country licensed to destroy the quadruped property which 
might be entrusted to their care. 
The time of residence at the College is extended to eighteen 
months, and it is intimated that the regularity of that attendance 
will be more strictly enforced. Here, too, there was a need of 
reform. How many seven and five, and four and three months’ 
students could we name. At the meeting, so long an account of 
which has been given in this number of our Journal, Professor 
Dick complains of his pupils being compelled to attend at the 
Southern Veterinary School six times as long as they formerly were. 
With regard to a youth whose father was not a veterinary sur- 
geon, and who had not been apprenticed to a veterinary surgeon, 
it is an excellent regulation which forces on him an attendance 
of eighteen months. If we found any fault, it would be that the 
eighteen were not twenty-four ; but, as a general rule, it is liable 
to exception. It is hard to compel the son of a veterinary surgeon 
— or an apprentice of three years’ standing — to protract his stay at 
the College so long. We will not say that his time is thrown 
away there — he would, or he might, doubtless improve during that 
period of residence ; but the expense might be a serious incon- 
venience to him, or he might not be able to avail himself of some 
advantageous opportunities of going into practice. 
Let the raw student stay his full time ; but let nine, or twelve 
months at most, suffice for him who has come to the institution more 
than half prepared. Many of the certificated pupils of the North- 
ern and Southern Schools — many a young man, ardent in his pur- 
suit of knowledge, might wish to go from the one school to the other, 
and to gather the cream of the instruction at both of them. Now, 
it would be manifestly hard if, after having staid the full time at 
one, and shewn that he had well disposed of that time by having 
obtained with honour the certificate of that school, he should be 
compelled to stay the whole eighteen months at the other before 
he can compete for a similar distinction there. There should be an 
understanding on this point between the two schools, and the re- 
gular attendance of one whole session at the second school should 
be deemed sufficient, on the production of the diploma from the first. 
VOL. XII. 4 P 
