344 CONFERENCE WITH VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
other hand, it is desirable, in the best interest of Agriculture, that 
Farmers and others should be supplied at a low charge with the best 
professional advice on the occurrence of serious outbreaks of disease, 
and the Committee therefore do not recommend any alteration in the 
charge either to the Subscribers to the College or to the Members of the 
Royal Agricultural Society ; but to Non-Subscribers the Committee 
recommend that the charge should be raised to £5 5s. 
The Committee think that the Profession would be satisfied with these 
changes ; and as they will not affect injuriously, but rather otherwise, the 
financial interests of the College, they recommend them to the favor¬ 
able consideration of the Governors. 
It will be observed that the complaints are not directed against the 
College generally, but against certain abuses, or, if abuse be too strong 
a word, against undue advantage being taken by certain individual 
Subscribers. 
As regards the College generally, the data collected by Mr. Collins 
and the Secretary from the books show that there is no ground for any 
charge of “underselling” the Profession. 
CD O 
It appears from those data that in the year past 2052 patients were 
treated, and 1447 Horses were examined. In addition to the charge for 
keep, the subscriptions paid gave an average of £l Is. for each Horse 
examined, and 9s. for cost of medical treatment for each case. 
As regards the second ground of complaint, viz. the practice of the 
Professors in visiting and examining animals outside the College, which 
was stated to be frequent, no specific instances were brought forward in 
a way so as to admit of immediate investigation. 
The Committee could only assure the Deputation that any such 
practice was most strictly prohibited by the terms of the engagement of 
the Professors, and that any cases which they could prove would be 
visited with the severest penalty. With this assurance the Deputation 
appeared perfectly satisfied. 
The Deputation also objected to the Professors constantly appearing 
in Law Courts as witnesses or experts, as interfering with the legitimate 
practice of the Profession. 
The Committee assured the Deputation that the Governors were much 
opposed to the valuable time of their Professors being taken up, some¬ 
times for days together, in the Law Courts; but that a subpoena 
compelled attendance. 
The Committee recommend, with a view of discouraging this practice, 
that the fees received for such attendance be paid into the College Fund. 
The Deputation likewise objected to the employment of the Pro¬ 
fessors at the Smithfield and Royal Agricultural Shows at a low fee; 
but on explanation that it was for the good of the public service that 
the inspectors at these shows should be totally unconnected with 
breeders and dealers, and also specially skilled in a knowledge of den¬ 
tition of animals, so as to command public confidence, the Deputation 
withdrew their objection. 
The Deputation then pressed their objection to the employment of 
the Professors at the Islington and Alexandra and other Horse Shows. 
As these Shows are private speculations of Limited Liability Companies, 
the Committee think that the Profession have fair grounds for their 
objection. When a Company make a profit, they may fairly be called on 
to pay the usual rates. Where a Society makes no profit, as the Smith- 
field Club and Royal Agricultural Society, it is right that the College 
should afford them every assistance. 
The Deputation did not in any way object to the cheap practice 
lately instituted by the Governors. 
