522 
THE EDINBURGH VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
elsewhere, before it was published in your pages, the Council 
have not thought it proper to send me a copy, either as a member 
of Council, or as a person whose name they have introduced in an 
unwarrantable manner. 
In the first paragraph of the Report it is stated that the “ Coun- 
cil have great pleasure in presenting the first Report/’ a measure 
they have been induced to adopt, in order that the utmost publicity 
u may be given ” to their proceedings. If so, why did they not 
lay it before the General Meeting of the Incorporation on the 8th 
of May, when it could have been discussed ; and why was it that 
the President and individual members of the Council refused to 
pledge the Council to publish their proceedings 1 But I leave that 
point, to examine what has been published respecting the exami- 
nations at this school. 
After some preliminary remarks regarding the arrangements for 
the first examinations, in which it is stated that a certain number 
of veterinary surgeons were added to the temporary Board in room 
of those who were disqualified by being teachers, it goes on to 
state that the “ first of these examinations took place at the Vete- 
rinary College of Edinburgh : at this examination a deputation 
consisting of Professor Spooner, Mr. Gabriel, and Mr. T. W. 
Mayer, attended on behalf of the Council, and the report of the 
deputation was by no means satisfactory.” It is stated “ there was 
no examination on chemistry — none on materia medica — none on 
physiology — none on the diseases of cattle that deserved the name. 
There were far too many leading questions, and the examinations 
were very unequal.” 
In the above quotation it will appear that the deputation at- 
tended on “ behalf of the Council :” for what purpose, how- 
ever, is not stated ; but in a note received on the night previ- 
ous to their arrival, I was informed that they were to assist in 
conducting the examinations. Such being my understanding of 
the object of their visit, soon after their arrival in the hall, and 
while the examinations were going on, and that they might have 
no hesitation or feelings of delicacy, I stated to them, individually 
and repeatedly, that I should be glad if they would interrogate the 
students in any manner they thought proper, so as to test their 
knowledge ; but although they seemed at first inclined, they re- 
frained from doing so. Such being the case, and seeing I was 
precluded by the Charter from interfering as an examiner, I ask, 
whose blame it was if the students were not properly examined on 
every branch of their profession, which, however, I assert that they 
were! Why did the Deputation so far neglect the object of their 
mission as not to examine them as they thought proper 1 Certainly 
it was not my fault if the students were not fully examined ; and 
