DINNER OF VETERINARY PRACTITIONERS. 191 
same pleasure in meeting gentlemen who were strangers; and 
that the probability was, they would not be so zealous to attend, 
but gradually withdraw one after the other. Thirdly, there were 
so many of almost equal claims, that the election of three would 
not give satisfaction to the whole. 
“ Sir Astley Cooper then proposed, as an amendment, that a 
certain number, and a larger number of veterinary surgeons 
(five or six), should be elected to form a separate examining com¬ 
mittee, before whom the pupils should first appear, and be ex¬ 
amined on practical points. He (Mr. Coleman) decidedly advo¬ 
cated this, as answering every purpose required by veterinarians, 
and retaining the services of the present committee. He could 
not see that there was any degradation in it, or he would not 
have volunteered himself to be of the party. He exhorted us to 
know ourselves, and not to put a higher stamp on our profession 
than the public was willing to give. We could only rank among 
medical men as younger brothers. The army veterinary surgeon 
had not equal rank with the army human surgeon. We had not 
had the same education,—the same attainments were not required 
of us — we did no t derive the same emolument from our profes¬ 
sion—we were not, in fact, upon a par with the medical profession, 
and therefore had no right to complain if the equality we seek 
in this affair is not conceded ; and he thought that our most pru¬ 
dent way was, to take that which was offered to us, and which 
would secure all the advantages in the education and competence 
of the pupil which we sought. 
“ As to the second question, the admissibility of veterinary sur¬ 
geons as subscribers to the college, he disavowed having anything 
to do with that exclusion. He, however, did not think it so un¬ 
just as many had represented. He asked what advantage they 
would have in becoming subscribers, except the power of being 
commanders over the officers of the college, or unreasonably an¬ 
noying the officers of the college, or of coming up in a body, and 
passing such laws as, if they did not annihilate the college, 
would be most convenient to themselves. 
“ In no hospital were the officers permitted to have a voice in 
the management of the institution. He would, therefore, put it 
