562 EXAMINATION OF THE VETERINARY STUDENTS 
litigation, announced that veterinary surgeons could only re¬ 
ceive the same rank with sub-lieutenants, and with assistant sub¬ 
officers. This was a great point gained ; but it was not suffi¬ 
cient if they wished to give to Egypt men well versed in medical 
science. At length the examination took place; and the jury, 
astonished at the high degree of scientific knowledge which our 
students evidently possessed, were compelled to confer on them 
superior commissions. They appointed three veterinary sur¬ 
geons (aides-major) and seventeen second veterinary surgeons 
(sous aides). Then came opposition on the part of the minister; 
remonstrance on mine ; and at length we met half way. The pu¬ 
pils named aides-majors were to receive, while they continued 
in the school , the pay of sous aides; and these last that of an 
inferior grade, yet only a little less than the other. The promo¬ 
tions accorded by the jury were to be recognized as soon as the 
veterinary surgeons joined the army. 
The favourable issue of this examination definitively recognized 
the rank among the scientific institutions which this school had 
demanded, and which it merited. His highness Mehemet Ali 
soon after came to Cairo, and I had the honour of presenting our 
pupils to him w r ith their new decorations. He was already ac¬ 
quainted with the result of the examinations ; and, after various 
questions with regard to the competency of the young men, their 
rank, the state of the school, See., he authorized me, agreeably to 
my request, still to keep about me six of those who had most 
distinguished themselves, that I might prepare them hereafter to 
become professors, and to place the others in different regiments 
as appointments might occur. 
“ The Royal Academy of Medicine at Paris, to whom I had sent 
a copy of our first report, was pleased to nominate a commission 
to examine it. Their report was exceedingly flattering, and that 
illustrious society has expressed its good wishes for the pros¬ 
perity of an institution which Egypt owes to Mehemet Ali. 
“Thus, in the space of about three years, a veterinary school 
has been established at Abou-Zabel, and the military service of 
the army veterinarian perfectly organized. Twenty pupils have 
obtained the rank and decorations of aides and sous aides. I have 
sacrificed my repose and my health to the accomplishment of 
this great enterprize: interest never swayed me; and, although 
called upon for immense exertion, I have never had more than 
exceedingly moderate appointments. At one time, going by the 
command of his highness from Rosetta to Cairo, 1 had nearly 
perished by shipwreck; and I lost the little that I possessed. 
Many a time have I travelled through Lower Egypt to combat 
there the murderous epizootics. During the epoch of the cholera 
I quitted the school, and lent my assistance to and conducted 
the military hospital in the capital; and I did not quit it until I 
