THE VETERINARY PROFESSION. 
157 
If not now, when will the time for an advance occur? The 
experience of the “ new ” schools indicates that there are students 
who are willing to take a full three years’ course if it is asked of 
them. Some may say that many veterinary students are too poor 
to afford a three years’ course. We answer that the student in 
this country, with such advantages as we all enjoy, who has not 
sufficient energy and ability to devise ways and means to thor¬ 
oughly educate himself in the profession of his choice, will never 
prove either a boon to the profession or credit to the college 
which graduates him. 
Others may say that three years’ attendance at college is un¬ 
necessary, that one session of nine months, or (still worse) two 
sessions of four and one-half months each, will suffice, relying 
upon the argument that but a few years ago only two sessions’ 
attendance was required in the colleges of other countries; but do 
they remember also that the profession was then in its mere 
infancy? or would they expect, because a certain amount of food 
sufficed for a new-born babe, that it would likewise be sufficient 
for the mature man at arduous work ? Enough and more has 
been added to veterinarv science in the last decade than can be 
crammed into the average student’s head in nine months, without 
teaching him what was previously known. 
We need, also, a strict application of the advertised require¬ 
ments of good moral character, for nothing is more essential to 
the proper standing of our profession than strict, straightforward 
morality and honesty of the individual. We should be honest 
and open in our transactions, and in opinions of matters where 
our decision is asked. 
The “ old ” colleges should lay aside their laxity in matricula¬ 
tion examinations, and demand at least a strict common school 
education in all the branches, instead of admitting men as they 
now do, who are not sufficiently advanced to spell gut without 
two “ ts.” 
Once in college, as before said, it is important to see that the 
student does not get out too quickly, so as to appear that in his 
haste to get in he had slipped on the threshold and slid clear 
through without pausing long enough to have his clothes smell of 
