256 ci VETERINARY PROGRESS.” 
beat him entirely out of the field; hence the absolute neces¬ 
sity of the qualified veterinary surgeon being made a tho¬ 
roughly practical as well as a scientific man. 
The Apprenticeship Clause .—This clause I esteem of far 
greater importance than the one above. I know there are 
some who entertain other views on this subject, but having 
an extensive acquaintance with and knowledge of the opinion 
of my professional brethren in every part of England, Ireland, 
and Scotland, I believe if the whole of the profession could 
be polled to-morrow, eight out of every ten would record their 
vote in favour of the apprenticeship clause. The veterinary 
surgeon, however well educated he may be, labours under 
an immense disadvantage throughout life if he has seen only 
the practice which comes under his observation at college ; 
but if he has been accustomed and inured to the work of 
attending sick and lame horses, &c., and is bound to produce 
an indenture of apprenticeship showing that he has served 
three years with a veterinary surgeon when he enters college, 
such a one (provided always that he possessed a good sound 
English education and a good intellectual capacity) is the 
man most likely to bring credit upon himself and upon the 
profession to which he belongs. The late Professor Spooner 
has often said in my hearing, a We do not profess, nay, it is 
impossible for us, to give a youth a sufficient practical in¬ 
struction during his period of study at college. 55 
Extract from the late Professor Spooner's Address 
(page 510, Veterinarian , 1870 ).— i( The question of the 
propriety of introducing an apprenticeship clause was brought 
before the Council shortly after the Charter was obtained, 
but the corporate body had no authority whatever with refer¬ 
ence to the education of the pupil prior to his entering 
either of the Colleges, and there was great opposition offered 
to the insertion of such a clause in the bye-laws, and the 
proposal fell to the ground. At the time he was opposed to 
the introduction of the clause; not only did he think it was 
not expedient, but he also felt that the Council had no such 
authority, but subsequent reflection and experience had in¬ 
duced him to alter his views as regards the advisability of a 
youth being placed under tuition of a practising veterinary 
surgeon prior to his presenting himself for his final examina¬ 
tion for the diploma of the College, and he was the more 
convinced of the correctness of his present view from what 
had recently occurred in the Council, viz., the resolution to 
establish practical examinations. He had advocated such 
examination for more than a quarter of a century, but he had 
