THE CHARTER AND THE BY-LAWS. 
137 
suitable treatment, the beast began to ruminate in about five or six 
days after the application of the cautery, and rapidly recovered. In 
this case I attribute the failure of the counter-irritants used, in the 
first instance, to the depressed state of the vital powers in the 
animal, and I think the cautery will be found a valuable auxiliary 
in the treatment of such cases where energetic measures are 
required. 
Wishing you a long and uninterrupted career of prosperity, 
I remain, Sir, 
Your’s, respectfully. 
13th February, 1849. 
THE CHARTER AND THE BY-LAWS. 
By W. Cox, M.R.C. V.S. 
To the Editor of “ The Veterinarian''' 
Sir,—I n the obtainment of the Charter for the veterinary profes¬ 
sion, I find that both professors and members joined hand in hand; 
and that, as soon as obtained, those who were appointed mem¬ 
bers of the Council made laws which not only set the colleges 
of instruction against them, but laws for which, it must be 
apparent to all, the state of the veterinary profession, no more 
than the state of the country, is ripe or able to bear with :—I 
mean the apprentice clause. And I am confirmed in this opinion 
by the suspension of this act. I shall not find fault without 
pointing out a remedy. A law like the following ought to have 
been made after the first two years of the existence of the 
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. After the student had 
made it appear to the satisfaction of all parties that he had been 
in practice three years previous to entering the College, either for 
himself, or with a farrier or cow*doctor, or veterinary surgeon ; 
then, after a study of two sessions atone of the Colleges, he might 
call for an examination; farmers’ sons, &c. after a study of three 
sessions; drapers, tailors, cobblers, &c. after a study of four ses¬ 
sions. This might have been tried for a stated period ; say for 
five or seven years. In fact, it is my opinion that something of 
the kind must still come into operation. 
2dly. In the present state of our art, the making of laws should 
not be entrusted to the few of its members who compose the 
Council. At the yearly meeting for the election of four members 
of Council, the ratification of the laws made by the Council during 
