ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 379 
of the pupils, too, ought to be taken into consideration. 
The funds of the College were entirely derived from the fees 
from pupils, and therefore no difficulty ought to be thrown 
in the way in that respect. At present, if a candidate was re¬ 
jected he was rejected for a period not less than three months. 
This could not, however, be the case in Scotland, where the 
session commenced in November; but at the Royal Veterinary 
College it commenced in October, which arrangement allowed 
of three months’ instructions before Christmas. Mr. Broad’s 
proposal, however, would require a pupil who had been re¬ 
jected in April to attend the school until the following April, 
and it certainly was not consistent with the interests of the 
profession that this should be the rule. A man of money 
might easily stop that additional time, but poor men, who 
had only their talent to rely upon, might not be able to stay 
so long. It was, however, desirable, as much as possible, to 
encourage men of education and talent to enter the profession. 
It was well known that the profession had sustained a very 
serious loss through the death of Professor Spooner, and it was 
equally well known that at the present time alterations were 
being carried out in the Royal Veterinary College, and that 
within the last few weeks the Governors of the College had 
taken a step which would go far to remove the objections 
that had been raised against the Christmas examination. 
They had determined upon the establishment of a summer 
session, which would commence in May and end in June. 
The educational year would thus be divided into two 
sessions: the one commencing in October, and continuing till 
the last day of March ; and the other commencing in May, 
and continuing till the end of June. Surely then it would 
be most inconsistent for the Council to expect the pupils to 
wait till the following April before being examined. He 
trusted that Mr. Broad would see the matter in its proper 
light, and at once withdraw his proposition, which, if carried 
out, would do an immense amount of mischief, and very likely 
set the schools against the College. If it was found necessary 
to increase the fees, then let the increase be levied on those 
who appeared the second time for examination. In conclu¬ 
sion, he urged upon the Council to well consider the matter 
before it accepted the motion for the alteration. 
The President said, after what Professor Simonds had said, 
he was convinced that it would be unwise to adopt the pro¬ 
posed alteration. At the same time, “ what was sauce for 
the goose was sauce for the gander,” and the Council ought 
to reflect upon the course they would adopt with regard to 
Scotland. In the event of a summer session being established 
25 
XLV. 
