144 HISTOEICAL ACCOUNT OF THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT OF 



high degree of proficiency in most of the pupils, and in no 

 department was this shown more strikingly than in chemistry, 

 with the principles of which almost all the students seemed 

 quite familiar. Several, however, whose progress was not so 

 satisfactory, were rejected ; a significant proof that a certificate 

 from the Society's veterinary examiners was no mere formal 

 grant, but a hona fide evidence of thorough acquaintance with 

 the veterinary art. Nineteen students were found duly 

 qualified, and received certificates. As showing the value of 

 the certificate, it was stated at this year's examinations that 

 two students having such, had recently received veterinary 

 appointments in the army. As was customary, Mr Burn 

 Murdoch, at the close of this year's examinations gave a word 

 of counsel to the students on leaving the College, and he felt 

 he could not do it better on this occasion than in the words of 

 Sir Astley Cooper when addressing his students at the close of 

 one of his sessions : — " Now, gentlemen," said Sir Astley Cooper, 

 ■"give me leave to tell you on what your success in life will 

 depend — 1st, Upon a good and constantly increasing knowledge 

 of your profession ; 2d, On an industrious discharge of its 

 duties ; 3d, Upon the preservation of your moral character. 

 Unless you possess the first, hioivlcdge, you ought not to suc- 

 ceed, and no man can wish vou success ; without the second, 

 industry, no one ever will succeed ; and unless you preserve 

 your 'moral character, even if it were possible that you could 

 succeed, it would be impossible that you could be happy." 



AmoniT those who attended the whole course of lectures 

 during this session was Mr John Goodsir, Professor of Anatomy 

 in the University of Edinburgh. A higher compliment could 

 not have been paid to Professor Dick. 



Twenty-seventlh Session, 1849-50. 



The examinations for this session took place on the 22d, 

 23d, and 24th April 1850, and were conducted as usual by 

 the dite of the medical profession in Edinburgh, and a num- 

 ber of veterinarians, among whom Mr Legrew, the veterin- 

 ary surgeon of the 13th Light Dragoons, then quartered at 

 Piershill Barracks, gave valuable assistance. Mr Burn Mur- 

 doch occupied the chair. After a strict and searching examina- 

 tion, the Society's certifi.cate was conferred on twenty-seven 

 gentlemen. At the conclusion, the Chairman after announcing 

 the names of the successful candidates, addressed the students : 

 " To those who are now entering on life, let me say one word — 

 let them endeavour to do their duty to sustain through life 

 their own credit and that of the College. May I also add an 

 advice, simple perhaps, but one which the gentlemen present 



