THIS EDINBURGH VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
531 
most unqualified contradiction;” and further reiterates that the 
pupils were as rigidly and as extensively examined on all these 
branches as they were in the recent examination. Notwith- 
standing, however, this charge of having asserted a deliberate 
falsehood, and thus deluded the Council of the Royal College of 
Veterinary Surgeons, we most solemnly and deliberately aver 
that every word contained in our report with reference to the 
examination is true in every particular. We declare that the 
pupils were neither strictly nor extensively examined; that num- 
bers were never asked a single question on any one of the 
subjects mentioned ; and that those who had any questions put to 
them gave very indifferent answers ; the whole examination 
evidently shewing that their education on these important points 
was both limited and defective. 
We witnessed these things with pain. We regretted that so 
many young men should be considered fit to enter on a profes- 
sional vocation, so lamentably ignorant of subjects, a knowledge 
of which is so indispensable to the veterinary surgeon ; and we 
expressed our opinions and feelings to the Council in words which 
Dr. Mercer declares to be entirely false. 
But we heard with our own ears, we saw with our own eyes, 
we have the testimony of our own consciences, substantiated 
by gentlemen who sat at the same table, who took part in the 
same examination with Dr. Mercer, and whose rank, station, 
and character in the medical world entitle them to the confi- 
dence of the public. And what is the result? Examiners and 
pupils, medical men and veterinary surgeons, have one and all 
given their testimony to the truth of our statements. Nay, more, 
Dr. Mercer’s own letter proves the truth of our report ; for if the 
pupils have been invariably and rigidly examined on chemistry, 
&c., why should Professor Dick have objected to his students being 
examined on chemistry ? Let Mr. Burn Murdoch, Chairman of 
the Veterinary Committee, return the answer : — “ Professor Dick 
objected to chemistry being recognised on that occasion, as a 
necessary part of the examination, on the ground that it had not 
been customary to do so ” 
Does Dr. Mercer mean to assert that we do not know what an 
examination ought to be ? — and that we are not capable of ex- 
pressing with truth that which we both saw and heard? Does he 
mean to state that we have set down from malice and design that 
which did not take place? Does he mean to declare that the 
pupils of the Veterinary College of Edinburgh were extensively 
examined on organic and inorganic chemistry ? — that they knew 
the composition, and could explain the decomposition, of the dif- 
ferent substances used in veterinary medicine ? — give the names, 
properties, and places whence obtained, of the different vegetable 
