216 YORKSHIRE VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
satisfactory to the teachers and advantageous to the students 
if they were nearer their majority before entering the schools. 
Another matter which is likely to engage our attention during 
the year is that of the “penal clause/’ a subject which was brought 
so prominently before you fifteen months ago by a near relation 
of mine that I need not now refer to it at any length, but which in 
its ramifications must greatly affect the constitution of the pro¬ 
fession. It has received considerable discussion and attention, 
and I think there can be no two opinions as to its desirability. 
Now that the chief obstacle is removed, the Highland Agricul¬ 
tural Society having ceased to grant certificates, another year 
should not be allowed to pass without a strenuous effort being 
made to obtain it. Funds will of course be required, and I 
should be glad to contribute my quota, and I have no doubt the 
various members of the Society will be proud to do the same, 
so that I trust the question will be speedily taken up. I may 
here state that the following are the conditions upon which 
those who hold the Highland Society’s certificate may obtain 
the London diploma without examination :—those who graduated 
with the Highland Society in 1848 to 1872, one guinea; 1873, 
two guineas; 1874, three guineas; 1875, four guineas; 1876, 
five guineas; 1877, six guineas; 1878, seven guineas. These 
terms are, of course, quite open to all, and I hope every one 
who does not hold the London diploma will lose no time in 
applying for it, so that in future we may be one united body. 
The next matter which I would notice is one which has lately 
been going the round of the veterinary periodicals, namely, the 
examination fees. Private members of our profession in London 
appear to be placed in a very invidious and unpleasant position, 
if the statements of Mr. Moore are to be relied on, and I see no 
reason why they should be doubted. Gentlemen, those state¬ 
ments represent a state of things which I think our profession 
ought not to tolerate for a moment; leaving the special case 
referred to for subsequent discussion, I would add—in view of the 
“ Murdock case ” lately tried in a local court, which held that a 
veterinary certificate covered all kinds of vicissitudes and con¬ 
tingencies which might happen to a horse, I think the 
examination fee should advance pro rata with the value of the 
Rnimal. That is to say, if a horse is worth £50, half-a-guinea 
for an examination, exclusive of journey and travelling expenses, 
and half-a-guinea extra for a certificate. If the horse is worth 
£100, one guinea for examination, with half a guinea for certifi¬ 
cate. I may just say in passing that the Murdock case w r as one 
of great hardship to our friend, and certainly one in which any 
member of the profession might have got involved under similar 
circumstances. 
