602 
F. OSGOOD. 
The examinations for admission to the veterinary schools 
are held at the principal towns of each territorial department. 
Those who have obtained the diploma of the “ Institut Agro- 
nomique,” or of the National Schools of Agriculture, are not 
required to pass examinations, but are admitted in virtue of 
their diplomas. No one is allowed to compete in the exam¬ 
inations who is not a possessor of either of the three diplomas 
named below : “ Baccalaureat es sciences, es lettres, or l’en- 
seigment secondaire special.” The matriculation examina¬ 
tion consists of written tests in French composition, solution 
of problems in arithmetic, algebra, or geometry ; composition 
on physics and chemistry, and on natural history. The 
course of study extends over a period of four years, compris¬ 
ing the following subjects : Anatomy of domestic animals, 
exterior of the horse; physics, chemistry, pharmacy, and tox¬ 
icology ; natural history and materia medica ; physiology of 
domestic animals, terratology and therapeutics ; general path¬ 
ology, medical and chirurgical pathology; clinics, manual 
operations, and farriery; pathology of contagious diseases, 
sanitary police, inspection of meats, legal medicine, commer¬ 
cial legislation, hygiene and zootechnics. 
After four years of study the successful candidate receives 
the diploma of veterinarian. Those who have had military 
scholarships are admitted into the first stage of veterinary 
aids, and after having passed satisfactory examinations are 
sent to the cavalry school for a period of one year. At the 
end of this year, if they have passed satisfactory examinations 
for graduating from the same, they are appointed as vet¬ 
erinary aids and attached to the arm}^. Military students 
agree to serve six years in the army after they are com¬ 
missioned as veterinary aids. 
In France until 1890 the practice of veterinary science, 
except as regarded contagious diseases, was without Govern¬ 
ment control or supervision. The possession of a license of 
expert farrier enabled its holder to treat all diseases of domes¬ 
tic animals with the exception of those of a contagious nature ; 
the law of 1890 forbids the practice of veterinary medicine by 
any but those provided with diplomas from the national vet- 
