LORD KENYON. 395 



graduates of Oxford and Cambridge, and those 

 of the Scotch and foreign universities. But 



The only possible ground, upon which Sir Lucas Pepys 

 could consistently with his duty to the public have formed 

 his rule, appears to be, that he regarded an examination of 

 medical ability by men whom he knew, and upon whose 

 report he could therefore implicitly rely, as a necessary test 

 of the fitness of those, who were to be entrusted with the 

 important charge of watching over the health of his Ma- 

 jesty's troops. But if this be supposed the principle. of his 

 rule, what must be said of his recommending, notwithstand- 

 ing, several persons to be physicians to the army, who had 

 never undergone such an examination ? Perhaps they were 

 evidently so superior in ability to Dr. Wright, as to justify 

 even a breach of principle in their favour : No j they were 

 young men, who had not yet completed their academical, 

 education, and who probably had never had the entire ma- 

 nagement of a dangerous disease committed to their care. 

 They were, however, Bachelors of Physic from Cambridge. 



The degree of Bachelor of Physic is now given at Oxford, 

 the eighth year after matriculation j about thirty years ago 

 it was not given till the tenth, but even then, so little know- 

 ledge of medicine was thought requisite for it, that he who 

 received it was only said to be admitted, to read the aphorisms 

 of Hippocrates. At Cambridge, the same degree may be 

 obtained as soon as the fifth year after entrance is com- 

 pleted. The candidate first keeps an act ; which consists in 

 defending two questions, one chosen by himself, the other 

 by the professor of medicine; but the latter is given when 

 asked for, however long this may be before the defence is to 

 be made. The statutes of the university require also, that 

 the candidate should oppose another candidate for a degree in 

 Physic; but this is now dispensed with for twenty shillings. 



