552 
REMARKS ON VETERINARY EXAMINATIONS. 
deration of the Council, that to do simple justice to the candidates 
for their diplomas, they ought to select for examiners such men as 
are known to possess a philosophic education, and, above all, who 
are fully embued with a proper and sufficiently extensive know- 
ledge of every department of veterinary science, in its most 
extensive acceptation. 
Secondly, — The time that should he allotted for the examina- 
tion. This should certainly extend to, at least , one hour. To this 
it may be objected by stating, that, usually there are such a num- 
ber of candidates presenting themselves at the periodical examina- 
tions, that the time which would be occupied by them would be 
such as would take up too much of that of any professional man 
who might be an examiner. This, however, is met by the simple 
fact that, let a better understanding be come to among the Exa- 
miners — let them hold a meeting previous to that of the public 
examination, and on understanding the number of candidates that 
are to present themselves, let there be leets or sets of Examiners 
formed, so that two or three candidates (according to the constitu- 
tion of the board) shall be taken on examination at the same time. 
This practice is adopted by the Royal College of Surgeons of 
London, by the Worshipful Company of Apothecaries, and by the 
University of Edinburgh. 
If a proper arrangement, therefore, were to be made among the 
Examiners, not only would time be saved, but the student would be 
examined more extensively than heretofore. When the extensive 
spheres of the healthy and morbid structures of the horse, of neat 
cattle, of sheep, and of the dog are considered, it will be found a 
matter next to an impossibility to give, even by the best arrange- 
ments, a sufficiently testing examination within a less period than 
one hour. In this length of time, also, the student might rest 
assured that every justice would be done him, coolly and dispas- 
sionately, and consequently many of those scenes of hurry and 
despatch that have been observed at examinations will be ob- 
viated, and every confidence will be inspired in him during his 
trials. 
Thirdly, The subjects that ought to farm a general standard 
for examining on. The rapidly extending importance of veteri- 
nary science renders this a point of much importance. 
Hitherto the principal efforts of the Examiners have been, to 
determine the extent of information possessed by the candidate, in 
hippopathology alone. Fortunately, however, the claims of the 
vast importance of the other classes of domesticated animals are 
being prominently brought forward ; and, in future, no young man 
can, or indeed ought, to consider himself qualified for the duties of 
a professional life, unless his previous study has extended over all 
