THE PRINCIPLES OF BOTANV. 
503 
As to the examiners upon materia medica^ I differ with 
these observations^ and think that it is high time this should 
be done by some one thoroughly conversant with the actions 
of medicines upon, and the proper doses suitable for, the 
lower animals, and not have this portion of the examination 
done, as at present, by medical men, who practically know 
nothing whatever about the most important particulars of 
the subject. 
As to chemistry, it is a very different thing, and in this 
department the examiner should be a chemist, not a medical 
man nor a veterinary surgeon. 
I am further of opinion that the examinations upon the 
more intricate divisions of physiological and pathological 
sciences should be undertaken bv teachers of those sciences, 
and the practical details may be safely left in the hands of 
those distinguished veterinarians who adorn the Court of 
Examiners. 
[We very willingly give insertion to Professor Williams’ 
communication, but at the same time it is necessary to 
observe that we do not hold ourselves in any way respon¬ 
sible for the correctness of the reports of the proceedings of 
the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons which are sent 
to us for publication. 
In reference to the question, we agree with Professor 
Williams that the examination upon materia medica should 
not-be conducted by ‘‘a medical man, who practically knows 
but little about the actions and doses of medicines given 
to the lower animals.” In the London division of the 
Court of Examiners this subject has not been confided to a 
medical man since 1864, when Professor Morton was appointed 
examiner on materia medica.— Eds.] 
THE PRINCIPLES OE BOTANY. 
By Professor James Buckman, E.L.S., F.G.S., &c. &c. 
[Continued from p. 400.) 
If we examine seeds in their relations to animals, we 
shall find that they may naturally be resolved into two sets, 
namely, dietetic and medicinal; in the one we have a store 
of compounds resulting in non-stimulative innocuous feeding 
principles, and in the other are contained essential oils which 
may act as stimulants, or various alkaloids which exert a 
direct medicinal action. Curiously enough, the different 
