79 
ON EXAMINATIONS FOR A VETERINARY DIPLOMA. 
By J. S. GAMGEE, M.R.C'V.S., London. 
During the last two sessions in which I was a student at 
St. Pancras, the approach of the yearly examination was the topic 
of anxious inquiry, in consequence of the existence of the appren- 
ticeship clause in the By-laws, by which all those students who 
had not a legalized certificate of three years’ apprenticeship were 
excluded from the right of examination after two years’ attendance 
at College. In 1848, the Council of the Royal College of Vete- 
rinary Surgeons were pleased to suspend that by-law, pro tem ., in 
compliance with the petition of a large number of students. In 
1849, it was with great difficulty that the candidates for ex- 
amination could be registered, as demanded by law. In both these 
instances the students were the compromised party. That this 
should be the case certainly was not just; but I shall not stop to 
inquire who were the culpable parties, whether the Professors at 
St. Pancras, or the Council of the corporate body. I shall start 
by forgetting all the past mismanagement and party spirit which 
have so long distracted the members of our profession, and shall, 
in the name of peace and justice, raise my feeble voice in order 
that the proceedings which have, of late, so materially impeded 
the veterinary students’ progress be not again enacted. I mean, 
that the class of students be not made the sufferers of personal or 
party ill-feeling, but that their education be so conducted as to 
ensure their entrance into professional life with a stock of sound 
knowledge. 
It is irrelevant to know whether or not the apprenticeship law 
is again to be enforced ; but I shall limit myself to the fact, that a 
law which was intended as a guarantee for the abilities of young 
men entering the veterinary profession has been, if not suspended, 
at least never enforced ; and I now purpose to inquire into the pre- 
cautions taken by the Board of Examiners to admit such men only 
members of the profession as are fitted to do honour to themselves 
and justice to the public; and to remand all others who have only 
acquired a superficial and imperfect knowledge, and who are, 
therefore, not competent to practise the veterinary art. 
The branches of medical science professed at the veterinary 
schools of London and Edinburgh are, anatomy, physiology, che- 
mistry, materia medica and pharmacy, medicine and surgery as 
applicable to the horse, ox, and other domesticated animals. All 
these branches are of undoubted importance in a medical educa- 
tion, and it is therefore necessary that the students’ proficiency in 
each of them be tested. For this purpose the Council direct that 
