VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
697 
tions, however, are fairly put — they are not ambiguous — they are not asked 
for the purpose of puzzling the poor wight, but in order to ascertain his de- 
gree of knowledge, and his capability of discharging the duties of his pro- 
fession. They are facts with regard to which the candidate is questioned. 
No student is ever turned back on account of his agreement with or dissent 
from certain speculative opinions. If he has an authority to produce — if he 
has been taught a certain theory — if it has been inculcated on him by his 
teacher — he is suffered to pass, supposing his answers are consistent with 
anatomical, physiological, and chemical facts. They seldom examine on 
practical subjects — on veterinary practice — but on the anatomy and physio- 
logy of the horse. Here they are at home — the slightest error is immedi- 
ately detected by them ; and if they do detect a glaring error, they will imme- 
diately reject the candidate. 
They have, and Sir Astley Cooper in particular, the utmost detestation 
of idleness and drunkenness ; — he would never forgive the man who was 
found drunk in the morning. He attained his present fortune and eminence 
by his industry, and talent, and good conduct. 
Some students may have thought that they are pressed upon rather too 
hardly with regard to chemistry. The examiners go somewhat beyond that 
which is absolutely essential in veterinary pharmacy, but they say, “ you have 
taken up a profession, and, if you are true to yourselves, you will occupy a 
station in life in which the knowledge of a gentleman is required of you 
and therefore we will have you understand the general principles and appli- 
cation of chemical science. 
Whether the constitution of the Veterinary Examining Committee may 
be improved, it is not for me to say; but this I will affirm, that a more 
honourable set of men than they who constitute that committee does not 
exist ; and that “ piece of paper” as it has been called —your diploma — ought 
to be cherished by you as invaluable. The names which are affixed to it 
will be your passport to good society and to respectable practice. It will be 
hung up in your surgery, or in some place in which it will be occa- 
sionally seen. It will attract the attention of the medical man. He will 
read it, and, as he reads, he will say to himself, “ Here is one valued friend 
and teacher of mine — and another — and a third. This man must have some 
worth about him, or he would not have obtained the attestations of such 
good men and true, and of so many of them. I may safely make him my 
associate — I will patronize him as much as I can.” Depend upon it this 
will be a most valuable document, and closely connected with your future 
respectability and well doing. Permit me, in the absence of other mem- 
bers of the Examining Committee, to return you their thanks for the 
honour you have done them in drinking their healths. 
Mr. Field would have felt considerable diffidence in proposing the toast 
which he was about to do, were he not assured that he should express the 
feelings of every gentleman of the present company and of every member of 
the Veterinary Medical Association. The benefits resulting from an ex- 
tended system of veterinary education is a subject in the highest degree 
interesting to every practitioner; and we regard with the deepest gratitude 
the memory of those agricultural societies and those ornaments of the medi- 
cal profession who first directed the attention of the government and of the 
country to the necessity of the establishment of that institution, from which 
we have derived the groundwork of all our acquirements. The position in 
which we stand as veterinary practitioners is truly enviable, compared with 
that occupied by our forefathers. 
Under these circumstances — conscious of the high advantages which we 
have possessed, and connected with a school from which we have derived the 
