YORKSHIRE VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 239 
Having passed this trial with credit, I should prefer the pupil’s 
going for a year to the Agricultural College,* where they could make 
themselves good botanists and zoologists, and become more inti¬ 
mately acquainted with domestic animals. Then they must have 
three sessions at one of the veterinary schools, viz. three winters and 
a summer, where the teaching should be progressive, so that the 
last year should be particularly devoted to practice in treatment of 
disease and operations, in which the examiners ought to be perfectly 
satisfied that the pupil has attained proficiency. 
I am convinced that much of wdiich we have to complain is the 
fault of members of the profession who have not been careful to fit 
themselves to maintain their proper position. 
And now, gentlemen, I have trespassed long enough upon your 
time. Allow me to thank you for your patient hearing. 
Let us be true to ourselves and the world will do us justice. 
The dinner-hour, three o’clock, having now arrived, the members 
adjourned, and having partaken of the excellent repast served up by 
Mr. Gofton, The Chairman proposed the usual loyal toasts, which 
were loyally received. The chairman then, in lieu of the usual list 
of veterinary toasts, invited the members “to discuss the best 
means of educating the veterinary student, with a view of improving 
his position in society by his professional and literary acquire¬ 
ments.” After a long discussion, in which nearly the whole of the 
members joined, the following resolution, proposed by Mr. Brough¬ 
ton, seconded by Mr. John Freeman, was unanimously agreed to: — 
“ That we the undersigned, members of the Yorkshire Veterinary 
Medical Society, are unanimously of opinion that it is requisite and 
exceedingly desirable that a young gentleman before entering the 
Veterinary Schools should have served three years’ apprenticeship 
with a member of the college, and should also pass a fitting educa¬ 
tional test; likewise a practical test in his examination for the 
diploma.” That this resolution be presented to the council of the 
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. 
The next meeting of the society will be held in April, when Mr. 
Cuthbert will introduce a paper for discussion. 
Wm. Broughton, Hon. Sec. 
* Many people may be startled at the idea of a year at the Agricultural 
College, but a glance at the prospectus will show, that the expense would 
be less than that of a respectable apprenticeship, and the advantages much 
greater. The pupils would obtain much better scientific instruction, and a 
more varied acquaintance with domesticated animals ; at the same time that 
they are training in habits of order and regularity far superior to those 
that even the most conscientous practitioner can give, interrupted as he 
must be by the calls of business. Then the free use of library, museum, 
and laboratory, are incalculable advantages. The apprenticeship system 
cannot supply’ much that is needful; questions that will daily arise in the 
course of acquiring the preliminary knowledge cannot always be answered, 
and the pupil, discouraged by his difficulties, toils lor two or three years in 
acquiring less information than he could easily obtain in one year at the 
Agricultural College. 
