218 YORKSHIRE VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
number of students rejected at the examinations instituted lately; 
did these large amount of rejections arise from the negligence or 
apathy of the students, or was it in consequence of deficient 
instruction at the schools P He thought it was the duty of the 
schools to obtain as many patients as possible, in order that the 
students may obtain practical knowledge. It would be necessary 
to obtain a new charter in order to carry out the arrangements 
with the Highland Society; this would afford an excellent oppor¬ 
tunity for obtaining a penal clause. 
Professor Axe said that the questions of rejected students had 
been the subject of much comment lately. The fact was, the 
number of rejections very little exceeded the average. The re¬ 
jected candidates had invariably amounted to about one third of 
the number examined. As to the causes of the rejections, his 
opinion was that the principal one was the non-application to 
their studies and the general apathy and neglect shown by the 
large majority of the unsuccessful students. He was of opinion 
that the quantity and quality of the education given at the 
schools was very large and comprehensive, and therefore any 
young man who devoted the necessary time and attention to his 
studies ought to be able to pass the required examination. He 
thought it was one of the duties belonging to veterinary societies 
to know that the instruction given to students at the schools was 
of a satisfactory character. With regard to the controversy re¬ 
specting the apparently low charges for Subscribers to the Royal 
Veterinary College, he begged to remind the members that this 
was done expressly to obtain practical information for the stu¬ 
dents, and surely the graduates of the school would not now desire 
to curtail the advantages in this respect, which they had formerly 
enjoyed. He was of opinion that the present opportunity was 
very favourable to endeavour to obtain a penal clause, and he 
trusted that the various veterinary medical societies would bring 
pressure to bear upon their parliamentary representatives to 
obtain their support in favour of the new charter. 
Messrs. Cuthbert, Freeman, Anderton, &c„ also addressed the 
meeting upon various subjects alluded to in the address. 
A unanimous vote of thanks to the President concluded the 
business of the meeting. 
At the dinner the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, with the 
usual veterinary ones, were proposed and responded to, and an 
enjoyable and instructive reunion was passed. 
Professor Axe kindly consented to introduce a paper for 
discussion at the April meeting, entitled “Aids to Diagnosis/’ 
