426 
REPORT OF ANNUAL MEETING. 
appears to me ; why, as Professor Gamgee desires, the educa- 
cation of the veterinary surgeon should be extended. By ex¬ 
tending the education of the veterinary surgeon, we shall 
introduce into the profession a better class of men, who will 
be able to contend with the empiric in the country. But so 
long as the empiric, as he may he called, is thought by 
gentlemen in the country who wish to employ the services 
of a veterinary to be superior to any class whatever, so long 
will empiricism flourish. The public will always have the op¬ 
portunity of selecting their own veterinary surgeons ; and by 
raising the standard of education I think the end in view will 
be accomplished. Before sitting down I should like to ask 
one question—it is, whether gentlemen who come to the 
Veterinary College, and do not pass their examinations, 
are to be excluded from using the name of veterinary 
surgeon ? 
The President .—I can only give you this answer. In 
France, without having any special law, a pupil may come up 
to any of their schools for seven years; should he be rejected 
on examination from year to year, and if at the end of the 
seven years he fails to obtain a diploma, and should then 
take the title of veterinary surgeon, the law is put in force 
directly. He is not only punished for having assumed a title 
to which he has no right, but he has also to pay damages to 
the nearest veterinary surgeon who may think himself 
aggrieved. 
Mr. Helmore .—I might add that another reason why the 
standard of education should be raised is because I believe 
the proportion of successful candidates has been very great, 
much greater than it was before, showing that the education 
is making an advance upon the examination. I heard this 
morning that thirty-seven out of thirty-nine candidates had 
passed. That is certainly a proportion which did not obtain 
in my days. 
Mr. Mayer .—I believe there is no wish expressed that 
persons should not call themselves veterinary surgeons, but 
that they should not call themselves members of the Royal 
College of Veterinary Surgeons. 
The President .—That is the object of the Act. The style 
and title of member of the Royal College of Veterinary 
Surgeons is the one by which we go. It has been stated 
just now that there are cases where people have assumed the 
title of member of the College without having obtained a 
diploma. 
Mr. Brown .—May I mention an instance ? I have seen a 
printed bill-head with a name which I am not going to 
