The RCVS was established in 1844 as a regulatory body for the veterinary profession in the United Kingdom. The RCVS was created to distinguish veterinary surgeons as a profession, to administer examinations of students from the two existing veterinary colleges in London and Edinburgh, and maintain a register of persons who have passed these examinations, and are therefore members of the RCVS.
The Veterinary Surgeons Act of 1881 restricted the title of ‘veterinary surgeon’ to members of the RCVS, to help the public distinguish between qualified and unqualified practitioners. The Act also allowed colonial or overseas practitioners with recognised veterinary diplomas to be registered. A separate register of Existing Practitioners was created, to include persons who were not formally qualified but had practised veterinary surgery for five years previously. The RCVS were also given disciplinary powers to remove members from the Register in cases of criminal activity or professional misconduct.
Our digitised documents cover various aspects of the College’s history, beginning with our inception. These include the draft of the document sent to the Governors of the Royal Veterinary College in 1840. This proposed changes to the teaching and administration at the RVC to improve the status of the veterinary profession. The collection also includes several letters written in support of these proposals.
We have also digitised a sample of the 1882-1883 applications from those wishing to be included on the list of Existing Practitioners – those who were not formally qualified but had practised veterinary surgery for at least five years.
Also available are papers relating to the case brought against the RCVS by William Williams regarding Aleen Cust’s application to sit the Diploma Examination (1897-1898).
