EDUCATION AND EXAMINATION OF VETERINARY STUDENTS. 401 
sion^ and you may see those who reflect no credit on it; 
true_, but it is no fault of the heads of that profession if one 
of their members falls; they have been educated and still 
retain some characteristic of the gentleman; but what are 
you to expect from those who have been brought up^ as Mr. 
President Gibson says^ ^Gvith the lowest of the low?’^ and 
yet men of this class are still admitted^ who are unable to 
spell correctly or put a dozen words properly together. How 
truly Mr. President Greaves depicts the position of the 
fifteen-months student^ showing clearly the necessity of a 
practical examination; but I would say that it is not within 
the walls of the veterinary schools that they can have the 
opportunity of becoming au fait in the performance of 
operations, unless a third session is added to be devoted to 
practice, and by all means a close practical examination 
before obtaining the diploma. I believe then the profession 
would rise in the social scale; and justice be done to the 
public as well as to the pupil, whose diploma sets forth what 
in reality he is not, fully competent to practise the art and 
science of veterinary medicine and surgery.^^ 
And now permit me to say a few words on the fourth 
clause of the proposed Veterinary Medical ActI read 
that Mr. Gibson thinks that the act recently obtained 
Pharmaceutical Society might be a guide in relation to the 
fourth clause as regards parties practising without a diploma, 
and that there are many who would willingly pay a fee, 
and undergo a modified examination, and produce certificates 
of competency from influential men by whom they have been 
employed.^^ 
And in the April number Mr. Walley, after giving a cor¬ 
rect version of the Pharmaceutical Act, says, Nearly all 
chemists and druggists are necessarily educated and respect¬ 
able men, while there are many farriers and cowleeches who 
cannot write their own names. Such men as these should 
not be admitted, unless, indeed, they can pass a good oral 
and practical examination, but those who have received a 
good education, and can produce certificate of character and 
competency, should be registered in the same way as the 
chemists and druggists."’^ Now as to the first part of Mr. 
Walleyes in reference to farriers and cowleeches, in the name 
of common sense why admit. such under any eircumstances 
at a time when the whole body of the profession are crying 
out for educational tests in the new aspirants for the diploma? 
The thing is absurd, but, indeed, there are few of this class 
would trouble you. 
Having my name in your list of Contributors,'’^ and 
by the 
