ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 353 
The Chairman —Has any gentleman any remarks to make 
upon the report and financial statement just read? 
Mr. Ernes —I think the first thing to be done is to move 
that the report be received, and then it will be open for dis¬ 
cussion. 1 was in hopes that some member not belonging 
to the Council would have made this motion ; but as no one 
else seems disposed to undertake the task, though I am on 
the Council, and it may therefore be considered as my report, 
still I will move that it be received. 
Mr. Broad —1 beg to second the motion. 
The motion was put and carried unanimously. 
Mr. Ernes —I think the next motion is that it be adopted. 
Mr. Bailey —I move that the report be adopted. 
Mr. Helmore —I beg to second that proposition. 
The Chairman —If no gentleman present has any remarks 
to make, I will put the motion. 
The motion was then put and carried. 
The Secretary —I beg to move that Mr. Helmore and Mr. 
Moon be appointed scrutators of the votes. 
Mr. Jex —1 beg to second the motion. 
The motion was put and carried. 
The Secretary —The next business is to proceed to the elec¬ 
tion of seven members of Council; six in the place of 
Messrs. E. N. Gabriel, E. Braby, T. Jex, F. R. Silvester, 
A. Cherry, C. Dickens, who go out by rotation, and one in 
the place of Mr. Constant, who has resigned. 
Mr. Ernes —Before gentlemen fill up their papers, I think 
they ought to be made aware of the importance of this meet¬ 
ing, specially convened for the purpose of electing members 
of the Council. You are to elect responsible men, who are 
to govern the body corporate during four years, and you 
cannot be too careful to choose members who will attend to 
your business. 
We have met here, I believe, now, for fifteen years, 
and the question is, what progress has the veterinary pro¬ 
fession made during that time? Or what benefit has the 
Charter been to it ? Have we always been careful in the 
choice of those who are to govern the body? Have we 
always done all that was necessary? Is not the veterinary 
profession somewhat behind? If it is not standing still, it 
certainly does not progress. It is very true that we have 
only one duty, and that we should perform without fear, and 
with justice to ourselves, who are the responsible parties, and 
to those that become candidates for the profession. I refer 
to the examinations. Have they always been a test, or are 
they a sufficient test at the present time? It is said they 
xxxii. 47 
