THE VETERINARY SURGEONS. 223 
down with the utmost contempt, as totally undeserving of the 
slightest notice. Such diplomas might do to be hung up in the 
veterinary study, shop, or pharmacy; but they could only in¬ 
fluence the public mind for a short period, it at all. Practi¬ 
tioners would come to their level, and be respected only for the 
knowledge they possessed. He had a high respect for the medi¬ 
cal examiners ; but regarded their knowledge as totally insuffi¬ 
cient for the office of veterinary examiners ; therefore he was of 
opinion that a change was not only requisite, but absolutely ne¬ 
cessary for the respectability and welfare of the profession. 
Mr. Fenwick regarded the deplorable degree in which the 
country had been deluged with veterinary surgeons, who passed 
only three or four months at the College, as a decided proof of 
the incompetency of the examiners. 
Mr. Langworthy said, that letters had been sent to all the 
practitioners whose addresses could be obtained. Ihe first letter, 
continued he, was sent to the Professor, inviting him to attend. 
What we scarcely dared to hope, he politely accepted the invi¬ 
tation. Upon that, we wished to offer him the chair; and it 
was then necessary that a second circular should be sent. 
I waited on Mr. Coleman, and told him that 1 wished to state in 
the letters, after the words “ Professor Coleman in the chair/’ 
“who will bring forward some important suggestions for the wel¬ 
fare of the profession.” This would have been in the advertise¬ 
ment also; and every one who had read the circular or advertise¬ 
ment, would then have had an opportunity of knowing more 
fully the nature of the meeting. To this, however, Mr. Cole¬ 
man decidedly objected. Of course, I could not enter into his 
motives; but, if that which I proposed had been allowed to 
stand, it would have conveyed much more information than was 
done by the circular which was sent. With respect to the gen¬ 
tlemen who have not received letters, such omission arose from 
our being unable to obtain their address, either from the list of 
veterinary surgeons, or the records of the College. Besides 
sending a great many circulars, we published the meeting in five 
newspapers. 
With regard to the examining medical committee, there is evi¬ 
dently much fault somewhere; and I think it undoubtedly arises 
from the part they have taken in the management of the affairs 
of the College. 
We were informed, when Sir Astley Cooper was in the chair 
at the students’ dinner, that the College had gone on prospe¬ 
rously, and continued to flourish, under its present government. 
Is it indeed so ? I would rather say, that the sending out young 
men, in the manner that has been done, totally incompetent, 
