EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
119 
cost to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for examinations 
must amount to double the sum now paid for them. And who is 
to bear this increased outlay ? Would the pupil like to pay twenty 
guineas instead of ten for his diploma 1 Or, with reference to the 
examiners, could we ask the eminent medical members of the 
examining board, whose time is so valuable to them, and who 
are really conferring favours upon us as it is, to attend double 
the number of hours they now do for the small honorarium they 
at present receive 1 
In regard to the different departments of medical science in 
which the pupil is or ought to be examined, we quite agree with 
Mr. Gamgee, that something is wanting to fill up the gap of materia 
medica and pharmacy. They are subjects that might very well 
command another table at the board ; and this useful addition 
would add another quarter of an hour to the present allotted 
time of examination. But, are the pupils prepared for examina- 
tion on such subjects'? As for veterinary jurisprudence, lameness 
as connected with warranty or soundness, and the practice of 
shoeing, such things having been nowhere taught, are by nobody 
expected to have been learned by pupils. Whose fault is that 1 
Whether, however, the present qualification test be sufficiently 
trying or not, no person would think of increasing the ordeal of 
examination so long as the standard of education remains at its 
present height. This would, indeed, be placing the cart before the 
horse. Supposing such a piece of injustice were done to the pupil — 
for cruel injustice it would at the present time be to him — what 
would the schools immediately set about doing 1 Why, precisely 
what they have done on former occasions when difficulties were set 
in the pupil’s way through the apprenticeship clauses in the by-laws. 
They would instantly set up Boards of Examination of their own ; 
the effect of which fresh erections would be, that, while the Board 
of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons was regarded by 
everybody as the best, as offering the only true test of qualification 
to practise, the majority of the pupils, for their own convenience 
and purpose, would flock to the others, leaving the Chartered 
College nought but a sign-board and a laughing-stock. If our 
“ infant” art is ever to grow to any thing approaching the standard 
of liberal veterinary attainment, our schools must do all they can 
to solicit pupils from the educated classes of society, and to afford 
such pupils, during their stay at “ College,” every means and 
opportunity in their power for the acquirement of the varied 
knowledge requisite for them to become able veterinary surgeons. 
Has this been done ] Whenever it shall have been, we promise 
Mr. Gamgee the Board of Examiners will not need to be re- 
minded that their ordeal is not such, either in kind or severity, or 
in the length of time devoted to it, as the improved condition of the 
candidate for dipldma may fairly entitle him to. 
