366 
VETERINARY EXAMINING COMMITTEE. 
alone were competent to discharge the duties of examiners,—what 
would be thought and said of us ? Would any language be too 
strong, any expression of indignation unjustifiable, while repro¬ 
bating such an union of ignorance, injustice, and oppression ? 
Mutato nomine,’^ we are almost inclined to say to every mem¬ 
ber of the veterinary medical committee, ^^de te fabula narratur/’ 
We would earnestly entreat them to reconsider their late deci¬ 
sion, and listen to the voice of common sense, justice, propriety, 
honour, and public opinion; or, if they will not accede to our de¬ 
mand, let them, at least, condescend to assign some reason for 
their proceeding. Let them not treat us quite so cavalierly and 
contemptuously. Let them prove to us that we require what 
cannot, with propriety or benefit to the institution, be granted. 
We are open to conviction, and our pages are much at their 
service. 
We have heard it whispered, that some of the following cogent 
reasons were urged by Sir Astley Cooper and Dr. Babington in 
justification of our exclusion from the examiners^ board :— 
There are no instances in the history of veterinary science in 
which simple veterinaiy surgeons have been associated with the 
professors of the school, in deciding on the qualifications of the 
pupils.We will presently enquire into the accuracy of this 
statement, but we must previously tell you, gentlemen, that there 
are no instances in which human surgeons have been thus as¬ 
sociated ; and if the practice of other schools must decide the con¬ 
stitution of ours, the human practitioners, who occupy every seat 
but two at our examiners^ board, have no business there. If, their 
argument be good for any thing, it goes to this extent; and if we are 
to be excluded, we shall be, or we ought to be in good company. 
But the fact is not as these gentlemen state. When it was 
a matter of experiment and doubt, whether the veterinaiy school 
at Alfort could maintain its ground, or would be of extensive public 
utility, a few professors only were appointed, in the same manner 
that a professor and one assistant were deemed sufficient at the 
establishment of the veterinary school at St. Pancms. 
Professors, are but men. * However sincere they may be, they 
are occasionally swayed by interest, and they are the creatures 
of prejudice; and therefore it was not deemed proper, in Uie 
I 
