THE VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
205 
rinaiy surgeon had an education superior to what he could pos¬ 
sibly have had without the aid of those gentlemen. 
But, at length, a period arrived at which, not at all impro- 
perly, it occurred to veterinary surgeons to say, Why should w 
not have a share in this examination ? If we are competent to 
practise, and our characters are good, what should pievent a 
certain portion of us being admitted as veterinary examiners; 
The question, certainly, was very fair, and it was pioposed to the 
medical examiners. The answer which they gave was this. 
“ There are three objections: first, that, by the laws of the 
College, every examiner must be a teachersecondly, that it 
veterinary surgeons are admitted—we, at present, are familiar y 
acquainted with one another, and have great pleasure in meeting 
each other ; but it is doubtful whether there would be the same 
pleasure in meeting gentlemen who are strangers to us, however 
respectable they might be (and we doubt not their respectability), 
indeed, the probability is, that we should not keep up the same 
zeal in attending as before~we should gradually withdraw one 
after the other, until, at length, the committee might be left • 
a veterinary committee onlythirdly, where there are so many, 
if not with equal claims, yet with claims almost equal, to be 
appointed, it is questionable whether the election of three would 
give satisfaction to the whole ? 
Now what practical benefit would result to the public, or 
individuals, by this election, is not for me to decide; still, how¬ 
ever, there was no other objection against the admission ot these 
veterinary surgeons ; and therefore, I applied to those genhemen 
individually, and at length a meeting was appointed, lor the pui- 
pose of again discussing this question, and, so far as their opinion 
went, to decide it. The meeting took place, at which several 
gentlemen expressed the opinion I have mentioned ; and, at last, 
Sir Astley Cooper proposed an amendment. I do not hesitate to 
mention his name, which I should not do ii there was any thing 
it I thought discreditable to Sir Astley Cooper. It was no 
necessary'that i shouid“mention the name of the gentleman who 
brought "forward the amendment; and I should notdoit, it J 
saw any tiling in it that was considered, or by possibility could 
be construed into, disrespect to the Veterinary College or the 
veterinary profession. I am quite sure Sir Astley Cooper had no 
such intention : if I had even a doubt about it, 1 should never 
have promulgated that he was the man who proposed the amend¬ 
ment. He proposed, that there should be a certain numbei o 
veterinary surgeons appointed to form a separate veterinaiy com¬ 
mittee ; and he said, very properly (at least 1 think so), that ii 
it would be beneficial to add three veterinary surgeons to the 
