REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE AND EDUCATION. 447 
I might say much in regard to the manner in which 
students are taught in the veterinary colleges of the United 
States and Canada, but, at present, probably the less said the 
better. 
The faculties of the various colleges have their own method 
of imparting knowledge to their students. Some lecturers, in¬ 
stead of creating an interest in their subject, often drive the 
student from it, and they grow weary of what they do not 
comprehend, and confuses them ; others teach by observation 
and make the student interested by demonstrations and bring¬ 
ing the specimens before the class to exhibit the appearances. 
The practical work with surgical instruments, chemical and 
microscopical apparatus is a marked feature in the training of 
students. 
The object of our colleges is to prepare men for the prac¬ 
tice of veterinary medicine and surgery, to give them that 
range of knowledge necessary for their profession. An edu¬ 
cated veterinarian must have some knowledge of the laws of 
chemistry; he may not be a chemist in the popular sense of the 
term, but he should have some idea of the chemical constitu¬ 
ents of the animal fluids and solids of the body ; the organs 
and parts in the body of animals must be studied. It is said 
that the studies at college are easily forgotten, especially an¬ 
atomy. Yes, we do forget, but it is stamped upon our intellect; 
it by no means follows that this study did us no good. 
The best surgeons will not perform a difficult operation 
off hand, but will consult special books, getting the views of 
different operators and study out the best method. 
Students have to study subjects that are distasteful, and 
think if they could get rid of some of them, especially 
chemistry, their studies would be delightful, but by a little 
hard work they get along with comparative ease; they can 
not follow their tastes, but the dictates of duty. 
Some students commit subjects to memory and repeat it 
and forget it the next day; there was a special effort for a 
certain thing and then a collapse of the memory. It takes a 
year or two of study to really learn how to study. Those 
entering college and not having a preparatory training are all 
