MIDLAND COUNTIES VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 765 
downwards, people appear to have suddenly thought a more exten- 
sive scheme of teaching necessary for the welfare of the country at 
large. I think that we too should stir ourselves, for in my opinion 
the time has arrived when an improved system of instruction should 
be introduced in our Colleges. 
At the present time, a young man having decided to follow the 
veterinary profession, is very often sent direct to College, and not 
unfrequently without having had a proper education, or without 
having served an apprenticeship. Now allow me to ask the ques- 
tion, how is it possible for such a man to get on in the world, or 
be a credit to the profession, not having had any practical instruc- 
tion before entering the College ? I contend that out of such a 
number of students as attend the different colleges it is an im- 
possibility for the professors, however anxious or willing they may 
be, to afford the students individually an opportunity of becoming 
thoroughly practical ; therefore, when they leave College, although 
they may be well up as theorists, as practitioners they soon feel lost. 
Now comes the question — what is to be the remedy? 
The Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons have 
very wisely decided upon enforcing a preliminary examination, 
to be conducted by qualified men totally independent of the teachers. 
In my opinion this is very good, and the proper way to begin, but 
I would supplement it by insisting that gentlemen entering the 
colleges should have served an apprenticeship of three years with a 
Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and bring a 
certificate to that effect. If this were done, it would be far better, both 
for the profession and the public. 
Another very important matter to my mind is this, that botany 
should be taught in all our schools. All veterinary surgeons need 
a knowledge of botany, but especially we country practitioners, for 
I think that in many obscure cases a knowledge of botany would 
materially assist us in forming a correct diagnosis, and in the treat- 
ment also of disease. 
Then again we, as a body, are deficient in our knowledge of ana- 
lytical chemistry ; I say this because I know that the opportunity 
afforded at certainly one College is not sufficient to enable a 
student to become efficient in conducting an analysis, for I am sure 
you will agree with me that he can only become so by working in 
the laboratory. 
Now, for a student to become acquainted with these subjects, I con- 
sider it would be advisable to extend the course from two to three 
sessions, and at the expiration of each session to have an examination 
in two branches of veterinary science ; for example, a first sessioner 
should take anatomy and physiology; a second sessioner, chemistry, 
materia medica, and botany; a third sessioner, horse and cattle 
pathology. In addition to this, at the final examination, a practical 
examination should be included, which in my opinion might be 
instituted as follows : — Each candidate should, accompanied by his 
examiners, visit the patients in the infirmary, examine horses, and 
other domesticated animals, and give his opinion on the same. 
