122 SIR WILLIAM RAMSAY 



for granting degrees in several points, in which, they 

 differ from English universities generally. \ 



Thus the preparation of a Thesis or Dissertation is the 

 essential qualification for a degree and is not replaceable 

 by any examination or series of examinations. The 

 thesis embodies the results of work done by the candi- 

 date and always professes to be based on research, 

 experimental, historical or literary, etc. As a matter 

 of practice the subject is always selected, or at least 

 approved, by the professor under whose direction the 

 student works. After the dissertation has been pre- 

 sented and accepted by the Faculty, an examination, 

 sometimes written but usually oral, follows on the 

 subject of the dissertation and other subjects cognate 

 to it. The examiners are the teachers of the candidate 

 associated with other members of the Faculty. 



Something of this kind was what Ramsay desired to 

 see introduced generally into the universities of this 

 country. " How can knowledge best be increased ? " 

 was the question ever before his mind, and in his own 

 ardour for research into the unknown he seems to have 

 attached less importance to those other functions of 

 universities which are connected with preparation for 

 professions and for the everyday life of the world. Pro- 

 bably his view would have been that initiation into the 

 methods of scientific research is the best preparation 

 for successful investigation of the problems which come 

 before the physician, the engineer, the agriculturist, the 

 teacher, the man of business no less than the man who 



