374 EASTERN COUNTIES VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
Consultation with non-qualified men. 
Professional Etiquette. 
Eirstly, with regard to the Contagious Diseases (Animals) 
Act, it must be obvious to the profession and to Government that 
it was very necessary to include in the Act the disease known 
as swine plague, it being a most infectious disease, killing vast 
numbers. Not long since, Mr. Butters had some correspondence 
with a veterinary surgeon in the North of Scotland, who stated 
that some pigs bought on Norwich Hill had conveyed the disease 
to a distillery there, and the consequence was that a hundred of 
the pigs fell victims. I am of opinion that splenic apoplexy and 
all anthracoid diseases should be included in the act. 
In speaking of the N ew or Supplemental Charter, it would be 
well for young members of the profession not to lay aside their 
books and studies, but diligently to read the former, and by so 
doing keep up the latter, that they may attain the higher degree 
after the prescribed time, for if they neglect so to do, they 
will not in ten years time be eligible to become members of 
the Council or of the Board of Examiners. 
The Apprenticeship Clause. —It is very important that no 
student should be admitted to the ftoyal Veterinary College or 
any of the colleges unless he has been a pupil with some 
qualified practitioner for two or more years, and prove the same 
by indentures properly and regularly signed; for no matter how 
well read, how scientific a man is, or how many degrees he has, 
if he lacks practice, that is, if he cannot reduce his knowledge 
to action, and smartly do the numerous operations that 
are needed in every day routine, he will not shine as a veteri¬ 
nary surgeon. Such proficiency can only be gained by early 
training, for nothing is likely to cast more discredit on our pro¬ 
fession than to see a man perform his duties with a want of 
knowledge or in a slovenly or bungling manner. If this clause 
were enacted we might say with “ Senex ” in the Veterinary 
Journal for December, 1878, that our examiners on the Practical 
Examining Board would be able to sign the diplomas without 
fear or trembling, equivocation, or mental reservation of any kind. 
Direct representation of this Society in the Council. —Would 
it not be advisable that we as an association should endeavour to 
be represented in the Council direct by sending some one we 
know, and who we could depend upon for supporting our 
views? I am glad to learn that the JR-oyal College of Veteri¬ 
nary Surgeons and the Highland and Agricultural Society of 
Scotland have come to an amicable understanding, as I see nothing 
now to deter us from soon getting the penal clause if we all put 
our shoulders to the wheel. It is time that the whole profession 
rose to its own interests as one man, and petitioned Parliament to 
