344 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
stead of deploring their low condition. With regard to 
the exclusive right of employing the title of veterinary 
surgeon, I should be inclined to contend that the charier 
itself gives us that privilege. (Hear, hear). The preamble 
sets forth that we were about to receive very important 
privileges; but, unfortunately, as you read the clauses, you 
find that the only privileges bestowed upon the members of 
the profession by the charter consist, first, in our being in¬ 
corporated as a body, and being thus capable of suing and 
being sued; and secondhq that we shall be considered as 
members of the veterinary profession under the title of 
veterinaiy surgeons. I really believe that a man practising 
under the title of a veterinary surgeon without a diploma is 
performing an illegal act. In applying, however, to Parlia¬ 
ment to obtain exemptions or privileges, if members of our 
profession suppose that we are going to do away with 
quackery, depend upon it they are in error. The day has 
gone by when the legislature is at all likely to place such 
restrictions upon the community as to prevent individuals 
from employing whom they think proper, so long as those 
employed do not appear under false colours. I exerted 
myself with several members of Parliament to obtain an 
Act some years ago, but we did not succeed. That, however, 
should not deter us from making further applications ; but 
I think that no Act of Parliament which would be granted 
would ever have a retrospective action, and persons pre¬ 
viously practising would not be affected. That was'the case 
with regard to the Apothecaries 5 Company and the College 
of Surgeons, and it will be the case with our profession also. 
With regard to the assumption of the title of veterinary 
surgeon, I confess, I blush to see that articles appear in our 
veterinary journal by writers, not members of the College, 
who are permitted to append “V.S/ 5 to their names. I 
think, if we were determined only to affix to the names of 
those who were really members of the corporate body which 
are justly due to them, very considerable advantages would 
accrue to us as a profession. Depend upon it, however, that 
whatever we may say or do with reference to this point, the 
progress of our profession, our success in life, and the ob- 
tainment of that position to which, as members of a scientific 
body, we have a just right to aspire, will not depend upon 
any suppressive Acts that we may be able to obtain, but it 
will depend mainly upon ourselves, upon our own conduct, 
and upon our proving to the public that we are not only 
men of science, but men of practice and of intelligence; 
that we are honorable and honest men, unanimous in our 
