LIVERPOOL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
211 
of gratitude, but the time has now arrived when our profession may 
wiiii safety be left to itself. I believe we can find many quite com¬ 
petent to examine upon physiology, chemistry, and materia medica. 
We have many now, and should soon have more, who are educated 
scientific men, ambitious and aspiring, who would soon become 
fully competent to perform the duty. 
But how is this to be brought about? I see no way to it but 
this: the whole of the above and other matters deemed desirable 
should be incorporated in a Bill to be embodied in an Act of 
Parliament. Not only must the veterinary profession be united, but 
we must have the professors of each of the colleges and the 
governors of the colleges with us. They must all be parties to the 
obtaiument of the Bill, and also in the carrying of it out. It will 
now be seen why I associate in my mind education and examination. 
And I fully believe, if the Various associations named above and others 
also will petition the Council and colleges, and agitate the ques¬ 
tion properly and persistently, these things can be accomplished. 
I have reason to believe that the Highland and Agricultural 
Society of Scotland have decided to discontinue their examining 
Board. Now, I am one of those who believe that the education of 
the youth, however high it may otherwise be, if that education 
has been accomplished without giving him an opportunity of 
seeing practice, and receiving a practical knowledge in his youth, is 
a great mistake. Have we not proof upon proof that a young man 
may receive an excellent, yea, a most refined education at school, 
attend college, pass a most creditable examination, gain his diploma 
—here let me observe if the candidate answers every question 
put to him by the examiner correctly the Board is obliged to pass 
him and give him his diploma, which sets forth that he is competent 
to practise the veterinary art (understand me aright, it is not suf¬ 
ficient that the examiner shall suspect or conjecture that the candi¬ 
date is deficient on some subject not examined upon)—and, alas ! 
as soon as he comes into practice, it is found that he cannot even 
tell which leg a horse is lame of. Do not blame the examiners, 
but the system ; the best things to be learned are things that cannot 
be examined upon. This is the case with numbers, yea, nearly all 
who have not seen practice. How can it be expected to be other¬ 
wise? The thing is simply disgraceful, and wants a radical altera¬ 
tion. The experienced and shrewd examiner can in the first half- 
dozen questions gauge the capacity and efficiency of the candidate. 
Have w^e not been over and over again told by the professors that 
it is utterly impossible to impart that degree of practical know-, 
ledge at college in two sessions which is necessary to ensure the 
making of a competent veterinary surgeon ? 
As to extending the time to three or four years at college, I am 
by no means an enthusiastic approver of that course; after the 
second session everything there is simply routine. I have known 
educated students, at college five or six years, who would have 
cut only a very sorry figure in practice if left to themselves. I 
maintain that the education in the world falls short of producing a 
