426 
ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
in Scotland would have no voice at all, these three gentlemen, being 
Governors of the Royal Veterinary College, would have a voice. 
Mr. Fleming, of London, said that this was a very important question, 
and he thought that the time had arrived when their educational status 
should be improved. It must be confessed that the standard of educa¬ 
tion at the present time was very far from what it should be, and the 
anomalies that existed pointed to the fact that if it was left to the schools 
themselves there would be no uniformity, because it was imposssible 
where they had competing schools to have that uniformity of standard 
which was so necessary. The medical corporation of licensing bodies in 
medicine had a standard of education laid down, which applicants 
for admission to the schools had to pass before they were admitted. He 
thought that, as the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons were re¬ 
sponsible for the status of the student, inasmuch as it gave him the 
diploma, it was responsible, not only for the professional education of the 
student, but also for his general education. Although some of those 
present might dissent from what he said in regard to that, yet he was 
sure they would agree with him that the general education of the veteri¬ 
nary student greatly required raising (applause). He had had conversa¬ 
tions with some of the teachers, and they had expressed themselves as 
labouring under great difficulties from the simple fact that the men they 
taught were unable to understand the language in which they were 
taught. It lay with the Council to determine the amount of education 
that was required for its members; and now that the profession was 
entirely responsible for its own position it should see that its graduates 
were men who obtained such a fair share of education as would enable 
them to study the science, as well as enable them to pursue it with ad¬ 
vantage, both to the public and to themselves (applause). Whichever 
way that was done the profession would not be satisfied till this 
reasonable amount of education was laid down. He thought that the 
Matriculation Examination should be in the hands of the Royal College 
of Veterinary Surgeons, because it was the only way that they could get 
that uniformity of education that the profession and the public required. 
As to the voting papers, he thought that the suggestion of Mr. Lawson 
was a good one. He thought that the cross applied to the name would 
answer very well, and that it was a mistake that the voter should sign 
his name. He knew that a certain number of people would not vote 
because the vote was public, and because the scrutineers could tell how 
the voter had given his vote. He thought that where there were a 
number of names to be voted for it was very invidious, and he had ab¬ 
stained from voting himself. He considered it would be a better plan 
if the names of the gentlemen to be voted for were printed in the manner 
indicated by Mr. Lawson. 
Mr. Spreull said that they did not want any signature at all. 
Principal Walley said that, with regard to Matriculation, he believed 
that the schools were willing to agree amongst themselves as to a certain 
uniform standard. He thought that that was the best way of solving 
the difficulty, and that it was merely a matter of time. Although he 
had no objection to the Council exercising some supervision over them, 
still he thought they need not put the power entirely out of their hands. 
As to the system of voting, he did not see that if they were to vote by 
papers they should affix their signature. Personally he did not care 
about the matter, and he was ready to put his name all the same, but he 
thought that the voting should be carried on in the way it had been. 
Mr. JF. A. Taylor said that if he was in order, as the discussion had 
assumed a somewhat miscellaneous nature, he should like to offer a few 
