AND ON VETERINARY REFORM. 
551 
because he has not a discretionary power of rejecting* those 
who may be obnoxious to the interests of the profession? 
You know, gentlemen, that Mr. Coleman cannot reject any 
individual w ho may tender the entrance fee at the Royal Veteri¬ 
nary Co lege, provided that such person be at a proper age, 
(which proviso, by the bye, I allow has not been strictly adhered 
to). To what extent the Veterinary-surgeon-general may have 
f ushecl improper persons into the army (as veterinary surgeons), 
will not presume to say; or how far that gentleman may be 
culpable for doing’ so. But I am inclined to believe, that there 
are colonels who have not only rejected such recommendations, 
but have even refused their admission into their respective corps, 
and have given the preference to such as were most conversant 
with horses. Can a contemplative mind conceive that our wor¬ 
thy Professor makes some arrangement with his pupils, previ¬ 
ously to their entering the Veterinary College, respecting an 
army appointment, merely for twenty guineas; and by such 
means encourages men of low T birth and education, in order to 
deter others of more exalted fortunes from becoming members 
of the veterinary profession, or that he wishes to deny merit in 
men of science and education? 
With respect to a diploma , in one point of view 7 , it is not of 
much value to a country practitioner, owing to the deficiency of 
the existing laws of our national institution; neither do I think 
its value w ould be much enhanced even if the signature of your 
Army Correspondent, or any other veterinarian, w ere attached to 
it, except some legislative enactment is procured, in order to 
protect those veterinarians who are in possession of such a 
ivorthless document against those who have not dared to pre¬ 
sent themselves before the honourable board of examiners, or 
those still more unworthy individuals who have been rejected 
by that committee. But to the army veterinarian such a testi¬ 
monial is indispensable, as he holds his commission by virtue of 
that very document; whereas, those who are not in possession 
of a diploma, are not considered w orthy the recommendation of 
Mr. Coleman or any other influential gentleman who may inte¬ 
rest himself in the appointment of a proper veterinary otticer to 
regiments of cavalry. Permit me, therefore, to appeal to the 
good sense of the profession generally, whether such officers are 
not infinitely bound in gratitude to those gentlemen who have 
been instrumental in procuring the King's commissioyi , which has 
stamped them , at least , with the name of respectability , and 
thereby exalted them (in the opinion of your Correspondent) lar 
above the more humble country veterinarian. If such a decla¬ 
ration is not sufficient to rouse my professional brethren Irom 
