YORKSHIRE VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 215 
We find ourselves enjoying an established position, a distinct 
recognition of our status at the hands of the intelligent public, 
with a growing determination within the profession to consolidate 
its forces and establish' more firmly our rights and privileges. 
It is quite true there -are difficulties standing in the way, pre¬ 
judices, misrepresentations, and abuses to be confronted, but 
we need not fear them if we 'only approach the consideration of 
all matters brought before us with a determination to bear and 
forbear, and with a loyal desire to individually and collectively 
handle anything which injures or interferes with the position of 
the Society and its members; and if we do this, I am sure the 
records of the forthcoming year will not be barren of good work. 
Gentlemen, I crave your earnest assistance and support, and 
above all your candid, out-spoken spontaneous expressions of 
opinion in all discussions that may take place; let us get quit 
of that morbid reluctance to speak from fear of attracting a little 
interest here and there. If any one has an abuse to complain 
of, or is aware of anything against the credit or interest of the 
profession, let him out with it. These are energetic words, but 
well meant 3 and if carried out, with your assistance, something 
tangible must be the result. There are two or three matters 
now before the profession which are likely to considerably benefit 
us and are well worthy of consideration. One is the present 
and amended mode of electing membe s for the council in 
London, which has been in operation for some time, under which 
provincial nominations may be made. This opens out an oppor¬ 
tunity for the country practitioners to have their views repre¬ 
sented at the central board; it is a valuable change, and I 
think if we only take care to make a judicious selection of 
representatives, much good may be done in removing any mis¬ 
apprehensions or disabilities under which we may have had to 
labour, and in putting an end to that which we have deemed a too 
centralising influence in the profession. At the last meeting of 
council there was a discussion on tie 37th clause of the bye¬ 
laws, which, as you are aware, provides that no student shall be 
allowed to present himself before either section of the Board of 
the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for his first, second , 
and third examinations more than three times. I consider this 
a most objectionable rule, and likely to create a division in the 
now united profession. I regret that Mr. Peter Taylor’s amendment 
on that clause vras rejected, although the smallness of the ma¬ 
jority showed that there was a strong feeling in the council in 
its lavour. I consider the Principals in the schools are the best 
judges upon such a question. I believe also that students are 
admitted to the schools too young, inasmuch as not a few re¬ 
ceive their diplomas while yet in their teens. It would be more 
eii, 16 
