U. S. VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
443 
As to the question of a three years’ course, I believe we are to 
consider the fact that at first there was not a veterinary high school 
in this country. The most important point was to try and displace 
the ignorant man with good practitioners and give those men a 
good foundation—what might be called a veterinary A. B. C. for 
their own personal benefit. It is for this reason that the American 
Veterinary College stuck to those requirements. We have inau¬ 
gurated a change, as you have been told, by Dr. Lyford. We have 
lengthened our course from four and a half to six months. We 
have not yet reached the three years’ session at college, but we have 
required a more lengthened course of study—three years. The 
day will come, I believe, when it will not be a question of ordinary 
attendance in school, but rather one of the thorough education of 
those students who are to come to our schools. I can say as a re¬ 
sult that the students in our colleges to-day are better educated 
than those in the past. The students feel that by a long course 
of lectures they are benefited and rendered competent for the 
discharge of practical duties. 
As to the question of examination, it is one that will have to 
be considered by and by. I am certainly not in favor of an exami¬ 
nation by each individual school. Already, as I wrote Dr. Ly¬ 
ford, although he has probably not yet received my letter, I have 
considered the subject of a general board of examiners as a very 
important step. I have considered the subject also in some of our 
meetings and I am strongly in favor of a board of examiners, but 
I must say if we are to gain any benefit by a board of examiners, 
we must so arrange it that the individual school would not be 
tempted in the matter, and therefore if that board of examiners 
is to be established, it should be under the control of this National 
Association, representing every part of the country, and in this 
w T ay 1 think we could accomplish much good. Let your examina¬ 
tions be careful and impartial to every one of the candidates, 
whether from the Eastern or Western colleges. (Applause.) 
President Huidekeper: We will now take up the discussion 
of the report of the Committee on Army Legislation. 
Dr. Griffin : Mr. President: I take this opportunity on behalf 
of the majority of the army veterinarians to thank the committee 
