420 
REPORT OF ANNUAL MEETING. 
single man, much, more provide for the hundreds and 
thousands who are actually needed in Canada, Australia, 
India, and in many other parts, with the progressive deve¬ 
lopment of agriculture and industrial pursuits. On the 
subject of veterinary education, it is necessary that some 
few words should be said. I believe the Council of the 
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons would do well— 
Professor Simonds. —Pardon me, I think you are somewhat 
out of order. The Council has nothing to do with the 
education of the veterinary pupil. 
Professor Gamgee .—We have a great deal to do with the ex¬ 
amination of the veterinary pupil, and that is what I am 
coming to. 
Professor Simonds .—Yes, with the examination, not with the 
education. 
Professor Gamgee .—With the examination. That is what I 
am specially coming to. I am obliged to pass through one 
channel in order to reach the other. I wish simply to state 
that the veterinary colleges in this country, now three in 
number in active operation, and one in embryo, are to a 
certain extent actuated by motives which are familiar to eacli 
of the four individually, and I trust the whole four may be 
actuated by motives which relate to the general good of the 
profession. There are difficulties in the way of the veterinary 
colleges combining so as to secure that the educational 
standing shall be elevated pari passu with the social standing 
of the veterinarian. I believe the veterinary students of the 
present day are better than the veterinary students of twenty 
years ago. I believe that the veterinary surgeons that are 
made in the present day are decidedly in advance. We are 
not going back; but, as in every other profession, we are 
getting a better educated class of young men. Naturally, 
with a better material we can make a better compound; and 
undoubtedly the veterinary profession is rising. But in our 
own sphere of professional education, unfortunately, the ad¬ 
vance is not such as it would be desirable to obtain. If I 
may suggest one way in which the Council of this College 
can probably aid in inducing a development in the system of 
veterinary education itself—I cannot say that these changes 
can be effected suddenly—but it would be by adopting a 
system which has lately attracted very much attention in 
the medical world, of having examinations for the elementary 
sciences at one period, and examinations of a practical kind 
at another period. I think it is fair to the veterinary student 
that by the time he has successfully crammed his anatomy, 
his chemistry, and his physiology, he should then have the 
