649 
ON THE EXAMINATION OE PRACTITIONERS. 
Gentlemen, —I happen to be one of those unfortunate 
wights, viz., an ungraduated veterinary surgeon, against 
whom “ the powers that be^ are waging a war to extermi¬ 
nate. I therefore hope you will allow me a space in your 
valuable Journal to make a few remarks. 
I am one of those who have served an apprenticeship to a 
graduate of the Royal Veterinary College, afterwards I took 
the charge of a large stud of horses in England for a term of 
five years, at the expiration of which period I formed a part¬ 
nership with a graduated veterinary surgeon in this country, 
and having after a time dissolved partnership, I commenced 
and have carried on an active practice on my own account 
for the last twenty years. I am not altogether unknown to 
the readers of your Journal, and reference has been made to 
my papers sent to that Journal by the late Mr. Percival and 
Mr. Gamgee. I have always acted so as to uphold the re¬ 
spectability of the profession, and I would ask, is it not a 
hard case that I should be compelled now to remove V.S. 
from my name ? I would advocate as strongly as any one 
the necessity there is for a protection to the M.R.C.V.S.; but at 
the same time there should be some provision made, say the 
granting of a diploma, on payment of the fees and standing 
a practical examination, to those only who have served an appren¬ 
ticeship to a graduated veterinary surgeon, and ivho have been in 
practice for a certain number of years on their own account , say ten 
or fifteen years. I think you would find that there are not 
a great number throughout the United Kingdom who would 
avail themselves of this arrangement. I know 7 of only one 
in the north of Ireland besides myself, nor have I ever heard 
of another w 7 ho had served an apprenticeship and w 7 as prac¬ 
tising in any other part of Ireland ; therefore, I think it 
w 7 ould be an act of justice to a deserving class, w T ho, from 
various causes, have been unable to finish their course of 
education (professional) by attendance at the Veterinary 
College, and having entered into practice, could not, without 
great loss, enter as pupils now. 
I dare say that the number of those w r ho have served an 
apprenticeship, and have been in practice the prescribed 
time, might be easily ascertained, through the members 
distributed over the United Kingdom. 
Hoping the council of the Royal College of Veterinary 
Surgeons will adopt some such rule, and that, through your 
valuable Journal, you w T ill advocate our claim, 
I remain, Gentlemen, yours respectfully, 
A Practitioner for Twenty-seven Years. 
To the Editors of the ‘ Veterinarian .’ 
