266 IMPROVEMENT OF THE VETERINARY PROFESSION. 
but, if every student were compelled to make himself practically 
acquainted with the use of the knife — if the various manipula- 
tions of the forge formed not only a portion of his daily duty, but 
a prominent part of the examination ; and, connected with this, 
if veterinary surgeons were permitted to preside over his exami- 
nation — men who are most competent to judge of his proficiency in 
those branches of veterinary knowledge which are essentially con- 
nected with his useful and successful practice — then another great 
point would be gained in veterinary reform. The examination of 
students in the Clyde Street School would not be considered by 
them as effectual unless the examiners were partly composed of 
veterinary surgeons ; and students are very particular in having 
the names of these gentlemen appended to their diplomas. A prac- 
titioner, not fifty miles from London, may well remember that, when 
we called upon a veterinary surgeon (who had been unavoidably 
absent when we were to be examined) in order to obtain his sig- 
nature, he would not consent unless we would undergo a private 
examination. Of course we did not refuse. He was satisfied, 
and treated us courteously and kindly. 
It would be well if other schools would adopt the same system. 
I am sure that there are men equally as talented in our own profes- 
sion, and whose names stand as high in the medical, agricultural, 
and literary world, as those of some who sit in the present southern 
tribunal. Why should such men not be selected as examiners] 
How would the public think they were served, and what would be 
the feelings of the luckless wight who went up to Apothecaries’ 
Hall, if Messrs. Percivall, Youatt, Bracy Clark, and others of the 
same cloth, were to sit in judgment upon him] The public w'ould 
repudiate with scorn such a tribunal. The rejected and even the 
accepted candidate would think himself unfairly dealt with. In 
fact, it would be a mere burlesque. 
The allowing of men of our own profession to sit as examiners 
would not only be an act of justice to the public and to the stu- 
dent, but our art would then, and then alone, be placed in its true 
position. 
These remarks have been penned, not with a view of wounding 
the feelings of any individual, and, I trust, will not be considered 
