588 
VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
rinary examiners, before whom the pupils of all the schools must 
appear, or a separate incorporation of each school that is honour¬ 
ably and efficiently established, like the medical schools of Lon¬ 
don, and Edinburgh, and Dublin, and Glasgow, and Aberdeen; 
and without a diploma from one of which it shall be illegal, after 
the date of the charter, for any one to commence veterinary prac¬ 
tice. This is the radical cure; and it is a consummation de¬ 
voutly to be wished by every honourable practitioner, and by 
every proprietor of horses and cattle. 
Years, however, may pass, and much must be done, ere then. 
The proof of competency will be exacted from those who would 
exclude incompetent men. An ordeal must be passed, the test 
of which our present school will not stand. They must not aim 
at the reform of the profession who want reform themselves. 
Much, however, is now doing. This extension of the residence 
of the student is a most important step. It will bring in its train 
every other improvement, and particularly in the teacher as well 
as the pupil. The two years 5 man will laugh to scorn that which 
w y ould satisfy the four months 5 pupil. Let us have patience, and 
all will be well. No one, four years ago, could have predicted 
that the profession would have since made greater advances than 
it had in the preceding thirty; but every one does know, that 
the march of improvement, once commenced, cannot be arrested ; 
and that we must voluntarily accompany it or be dragged after it. 
A little patience, and the competent practitioner will be duly esti¬ 
mated ; and that barrier will be erected which the false pretender 
will not overleap or pass. 
The meetings of the Veterinary Medical Society will recom¬ 
mence on Wednesday, the 5th of October. We trust that the 
attendance will be numerous, the discussions animated yet 
friendly, and the improvement in veterinary science great. This 
Society will be one of the most powerful agents in effecting the 
desirable purpose to which our leading article has principal re¬ 
ference. 
