178 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE VETEEINARY DEPARTMENT OF 



Fifty-fourth Session, 1876-77. 



Forty-five students presented themselves for examination. 

 Of these, twenty-nine had previously passed the minor or 

 preliminary examination; fifteen had formerly failed to pass 

 that examination, and now presented themselves in terms 

 of the rules for examination previous to going up for the 

 practical and clinical, and one came under the regulation 

 applying to members of the medical profession, or of any 

 colonial or foreign veterinary school. Twenty-three candi- 

 dates having satisfactorily passed all the examinations, which 

 were held on the 9th, 10th, and 11th April 1877, were awarded 

 certificates. 



Captain Tod of Howden, in referring to the extended course of 

 instruction which the students had now to undergo, said he hoped 

 the change would result in great advantage to the profession. 

 Formerly the course was rather short and hurried to allow of a 

 young man being thoroughly trained in the various branches of 

 veterinary science. They had now more time and more oppor- 

 tunities in every respect to get a thorough knowledge of their 

 profession. He understood that in London, owing to the extended 

 course of instruction, they were anxious to raise the fees. He 

 thought such a step was quite warrantable, because in all matters 

 where they got more they were expected to pay more. He hoped, 

 however, the Veterinary Colleges of Scotland would not follow 

 the example of those in London, to raise the fees to the extent 

 they propose, — namely, from twenty-six to forty-five guineas. 

 The Highland Society had not interfered with any of the internal 

 arrangements of the Veterinary Colleges in Scotland, and he did 

 not suppose that it would be induced to fall from its usual cus- 

 tom in a matter of this kind further than to oppose the raising 

 of the fees beyond a moderate scale. He had been present at the 

 practical and the other examinations, and he must confess he had 

 been disappointed. In the previous examinations he had seen 

 perhaps more proficiency and knowledge than was exhibited on 

 this occasion. He urged the students to acquaint themselves 

 with the practical part of the science, as a mistake committed at 

 the outset of their profession was often very injurious to their 

 prospects. It struck him that a little more attention might be 

 paid to the study of botany, as it was important for the veterinary 

 surgeon to know those plants which were poisonous and non- 

 poisonous. 



The fifth of the preliminary examination of students took place 

 on the 10th and 11th July 1877, when twenty-one students 

 entered their names, and thirteen passed. 



