606 MEDICAL EXAMINERS AT VETERINARY BOARDS. 
to undertake the honorable office of examiners in anatomy 
and physiology, they will strive to add to the knowledge of 
these subjects they may have acquired at school, so as to get 
above the knacker and blacksmith stage of learning, and 
acquit themselves of their duties as creditably as their 
professional colleagues at the other examination sections. 
My interest in this matter, it is scarcely necessary to state, 
is entirely independent of every motive but that centred in 
the good of veterinary science. 
I write neither as a teacher, an examiner, a civil practi¬ 
tioner, nor yet a co-editor of the Veterinarian ; but simply 
as an independent member of council, and one who is sin¬ 
cerely anxious that veterinary science may be as self-respectfal 
and as self-reliant as medical science is. 
I have, it is true, spoken “ much of the necessity of veteri¬ 
nary science becoming a more effectual helpmate to the sister 
science of medicine,” as the leading article says; but I never 
for a moment entertained the idea that one science was helping 
the other in advancing knowledge by continuing an absurd 
system of examination. On the contrary, I maintain that 
the system is hurtful to the progress of veterinary science in 
this country, and does no good whatever to human medicine. 
It has been in existence for eighty years, and yet it feems 
our notions of anatomy and physiology are no better than 
those of the knackerman and blacksmith. Who in tie pro¬ 
fession would, after this, insist on the continuance of Such a 
system ? 
The two branches of medical science will aid eacl. other 
when the veterinary student is as thoroughly taught as is the 
medical student; and when the medical man, having ctrefully 
studied comparative pathology, and availed himself of the 
facts already acquired by his colleagues in the sistef profes¬ 
sion, can apply the results of his study for the benelt of his 
species. 
Allusion has been made to “ precedent” and “ bf e-laws.” 
A precedent is only valuable so long as the circumdances on 
which it was founded continue to exist; and a lye-law is 
not as fixed as the laws of the Medes and Persians, but 
comes within the category of those which allow of modifica¬ 
tion and amendment to any extent. 
In this instance precedent and bye-law are not insuperable 
obstacles to progress, if the step be deemed advisable. Let 
us remember that veterinary examiners have a direct interest 
and responsibility in performing their duty efficiently; medical 
examiners have none. 
