OF THE VETERINARY PROFESSION. 
489 
carefully read; and it appears to me that there is much truth and 
reason in the statement which you propose to submit to the gover¬ 
nors of the Royal Veterinary College at their annual meeting. 
The long and severe illness of Lady Skelmersdale will prevent my 
going to London this spring; nor can I assist the object which you 
have in view, not knowing any active member of the institution 
since the death of the late Mr. Holme Sumner. There, is, however, 
no need of private application on such a subject as this, for a Me¬ 
morial signed by no less than 286 professional persons is certain 
to command all due attention; and I heartily hope that it will do 
so, and that the result will be satisfactory.” 
A Governor .—If you obtained a charter, your object would be 
gained, without an increase of fees. 
TJie Chairman .—I suggest that you give in writing, on a future 
day, the substance of what you wish to be embodied in the charter. 
Mr. Mayer .—A simple charter would gain us one grand point; 
but if there were a clause inflicting a penalty for assuming the title 
of veterinary surgeon without a diploma, we should gain a still 
more important point. 
Mr. Behrens .—But this can only be done by act of parliament: 
a simple charter will not suffice here. We are agreed as to the 
propriety of a charter of incorporation, if it would afford the least 
protection to the public, and we would render you our assistance 
as far as we can: but we doubt whether it would be in our power 
to inflict any penalty for infringements of that charter. 
Mr. Mayer hoped that there would be little doubt or fear about 
that; and he could venture to say, in the name of the united pro¬ 
fession, that if the funds of the College were insufficient for this 
purpose, they would be ready to contribute liberally to the accom¬ 
plishment of so noble an object. 
Mr. Behrens trusted that the funds of the College would be am¬ 
ple to accomplish the object, and that the deputation was satisfied 
with the attention which had been paid to the Memorial. The 
view of the matter which the governors took was, to give the pro¬ 
fession every advantage consistent with the public good; and if 
any feasible method of accomplisliing this should be proposed, they 
would willingly take the matter into consideration. 
