550 
REMARKS ON VETERINARY EXAMINATIONS. 
as to testing the qualifications of the students that present them- 
selves for examination before them. 
Though a standard for examination has been hinted at by the 
Council of the College to constitute their model, viz., the method 
pursued by the Royal College of Surgeons of England in the exa- 
mination of their candidates, yet from the late Report of the 
Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to the mem- 
bers of the profession it does not appear that this plan has been 
completely followed out, either in London or in Edinburgh. 
Furthermore, it is much to be doubted if such a method of exa- 
mination as pursued by the former body, and which may suit well 
a pure human surgeon, will be the best adapted to test him who 
is to be a gejieral veterinary practitioner. The positions of matters 
are, indeed, entirely different ; and whatever advantages may be 
taken from the system of examinations pursued at any of the 
medical or surgical boards in this country, still, the Council of 
the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons should adopt that course 
which is best adapted to further their own special purposes. 
The following suggestions are made with a perfect, understanding 
of the different systems pursued, both medical and veterinary ; 
and at this season of the year, when there is a relaxation from, at 
least, the public professional avocations of the members of the 
Council and the Boards of Examiners, it would be well if this im* 
portant point were discussed and arranged before another session 
comes on. 
It has been well remarked in the <l editorial article” of a recent 
number of The Veterinarian, “ That the object of examination 
is twofold ; to discover the kind of knowledge possessed by the 
pupil, and the quantum or extent of that knowledge ; and the 
closer the questions put to ascertain these points can be brought 
to take a practical turn, the more searchingly useful will the exa- 
mination be likely to prove in the end by eliciting the qualifica- 
tions the candidate is in the possession of, to enable him to enter 
on the practice of his profession.” Admitting the full force of 
these remarks, and bearing in mind particularly the old adage, nil 
nisi bonum desit mortuis, the suggestions which are to be offered 
arrange themselves under three heads — first, the qualifications of 
those who are to examine ; secondly, the time that should be allotted 
them for the examination ; and, thirdly, the subjects that ought to 
form a general standard for examining. 
First, then, as to the qualifications of the Examiners, it is to be 
understood from the motto already quoted, that no retrospective 
feeling is made towards those who have been selected, either by the 
Councils of the late Royal Veterinary College of London, the 
Edinburgh Veterinary College, or the present Council of the Royal 
