318 
MEETING OF THE VETERINARY PROFESSION. 
There is certainly room for considerable improvement; and every 
man who wishes well to the profession ought to assist in effecting 
that improvement. 1 trust that where I ought to act, I shall never 
be found wanting.” 
Now ensued a scene of personality and acrimony which we 
reluctantly record. 
' One gentleman led the way, by declaring, that one of the 
names now attached to the college diploma was of more value 
than that of Mr. Cherry, or Mr. Goodwin, or Mr. The-Lord- 
knows-who, or a thousand such as would constitute this ridicu¬ 
lous committee. They who could not get a living by their pro¬ 
fession were now writing and publishing to obtain a little bread ; 
and if they got on the committee, they would have all the par¬ 
tialities which the governors feared ; and would basely exclude 
all of whom they were jealous. It was a meeting of farriers; and 
the world would laugh at it. 
Another gentleman entered his protest against the proceedings 
of the night. It was a mere promiscuous meeting, and not a re¬ 
spectable one, although he saw several gentlemen, not veterinary 
surgeons, whom he sincerely esteemed. 
On the other side, the value of the diploma was in no very 
gentle way canvassed. The diploma was not the test of compe¬ 
tency, but of adherence, or professed adherence, to ridiculous and 
injurious theories. Signatures to it might be obtained at half-a- 
crown each: one gentleman had thus obtained the signatures of 
two examiners, who were not present when he passed. Violent 
personal attacks were made on those who were not present to 
defend themselves from serious charges as to the conditions and 
understanding on which diplomas and commissions had been ob¬ 
tained. Altogether, it was a scene unworthy of the cause, and 
going far to disgust every temperate and candid mind. The 
chairman, at length, brought back the attention of the meeting to 
the question before them. 
Mr. You att then said, “ I cannot suffer this motion to pass 
without stating my humble but decided opinion. There can be 
no doubt that veterinary surgeons are the best, and, indeed, the 
only competent judges of the merit of the veterinary pupil. There 
is not a profession in which this principle is not acknowledged 
and acted upon. Would the human surgeon submit to be exa¬ 
mined by the veterinarian; or even the apothecary by the surgeon ? 
The progress of veterinary knowledge has given us those in our 
own profession who are fully capable of discharging the duties of 
the examiners’ board; and, however we may differ in other re¬ 
spects, and, in advocating these points of difference, a little too 
much forget even common courtesy, one feeling seems to pervade 
