PROCEEDINGS IN COUNCIL. 
361 
sion, which was shewn by a reference to the numbers that had passed at the Lon¬ 
don board during late years. This year the number of pupils examined was less 
than those examined last year, although no reduction had taken place in the 
number of pupils that had entered the College as students. By taking a narrow 
view of the question, they would be making farriers instead of veterinary surgeons. 
Besides, they ought not to tax unduly the young men who were just entering the 
profession, and make them pay all the expenses of working the Charter which had 
been obtained with little or no expense to the older members; the greater part 
of the cost having been defrayed by the examination fees. The College, more¬ 
over, was now out of debt, and consequently did not require this money to meet 
the current expenses. It was also to be remembered, that the Charter gave no 
equivalent privileges in return. 
Professor Morton briefly seconded the motion, contending that its adoption 
would prove a politic measure, as far as the revenue of the College was concerned. 
Mr. A. Cherry thought Professor Simonds had taken a circumscribed view of 
the question. It was very easy for a man to pay ten guineas, and be placed in a 
position which it had cost others ten years to obtain. The fee was not a payment 
for a mere piece of paper, but for sharing the reputation which had been acquired 
by those who had gone before him. He was sorry to learn that the number of 
■candidates examined in London was falling off, but he was sure that the lowering 
of the fee would have no effect in increasing the number. He found that the 
diplomas granted previous to the year 1844 very little exceeded the annual average 
of those granted during the eight years since. In the one case it was 36, and in 
the other nearly 35. If the numbers were fewer this year, he had no doubt they 
would be more next, so that a fair average would be kept up. 
Mr. Turner opposed the motion, believing that the dignity of the profession 
could not be maintained without the usual fee. 
Mr. Henderson warned the Council against the “cheap and nasty” system that 
Iiad been carried on in Scotland, where many pupils, he said, had obtained a cheap 
diploma, which had not been of the slightest use to them. 
Professor Spooner supported the motion. He said that many who were educated 
at the schools did not present themselves for examination, on account of the heavy 
.additional expense. In the first arrangement five guineas were paid for examina¬ 
tion, and five guineas for admission into the body corporate ; but it was found 
that many members who passed their examination were satisfied with that honour, 
and declined to have another five guineas extorted from them for admission into 
the body politic. What were the privileges for which these young men were 
called upon to pay ? He contended that they were not greater than they were 
formerly. JVToreover, the proceedings of Professor Dick had recently shewn that 
young men could be admitted into the army and the East India Company’s 
service without their becoming members of the Royal College of Veterinary Sur¬ 
geons. Shame that it should be so! and shame, too, that there should be sitting 
at that board a man who could unblushingly say, “ Through my aid this has been 
effected.” It was not likely that the Scotch pupils, many of whom were poor, 
would like to pay ten guineas for their examination, after having gone through the 
required course of education, and submitted to the expenses consequent upon it. 
By enforcing the ten guineas fee, they would be inundating the country with the 
very class of men to whom Mr. Henderson had alluded. 
The Secretary opposed the motion. He contended that the lowering of the fee 
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