732 
TUITION IN OUR VETERINARY SCHOOLS. 
show morbid specimens in the class-room, we also teach 
clinically.” 
These things are so, I admit: what I find fault with is the 
waste of time occupied in harangues. If' the subject-matter 
of our lectures were not plainly and intelligibly written in 
books for the purpose, but only known perfectly by certain 
individual lecturers ; or if lecturers knew facts and theories 
not already in print; or if that print were ambiguous and 
unadoptable by students, then, and then only, would such 
lectures be justifiable. 
An excellent lecturer in our school of medicine told me the 
other day that <f good students did not require lectures, but 
idle fellows, who would not read for themselves, profited by 
them.” 
Since these things are so, however, let me in the name of 
good students beg of lecturers to spare the infliction in those 
subjects where they can, and leave them the time to spend 
more profitably in the dissecting-room, the laboratory, and 
the sick box. Let me ask the teachers to be with their 
pupils in these places, and teach them to do. 
I do not wish to call in question the use of our lecture 
theatres, hut their abuse . 
I am glad that our examinations are to assume a practical 
form, for this alone will do what is required. As examina- 
tions are at present conducted, lecturing and cramming are 
just xohat students require in order to enable them to pass 
these examinations. But no one is bold enough to assert 
that these examinations are tests as to whether a man is or 
is not qualified to practice the craft. Let our men be trained 
to be practical veterinary surgeons. Let them be able to show 
a discriminating public by what they can do with their hands, 
that they know their business. Neither two winters nor 
three, spent in sitting like dummies, or taking notes, and 
spending the remainder of the short daylight in commencing 
and leaving off dissections, hospital visits, See., can make a 
man fit to practice as a veterinary surgeon. 
The period of study demanded by our examining boards is 
complained of as being too short ; but, if 1 am right, it is not 
put to the best use. In all modesty I would suggest that the 
day’s duties commence in earnest by half-past seven in the 
morning, and that teachers discountenance studies prosecuted 
after eleven o’clock at night. I think it not right that 
teachers should spur on all students alike to exertion. Words 
and threats used to stir up an idler, frequently have the effect 
of frightening a worker to read himself silly. 
In the next place I am at a loss to know why we require 
