ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 871 
College was to advance in this country as an examining 
body, there must be a modification in the examinations. There 
must be, sooner or later, a system of testing the students in 
practical matters, and he believed the addition of written 
examinations to oral would be of the i^reatest value. He was 
quite sure the principle of Mr. Ernes’ propositions was good. 
He thought students might be first examined on theoretical 
subjects, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, physics, botany, 
and then afterwards examined in medicine and surgery, and 
other practical matters. They should by all means learn how 
to handle a scalpel. 
Professor Spooner asked at what periods Professor Gamgee 
would hold the two separate examinations ? 
Professor Gamgee said that would be a matter of detail. 
They might have tlie theoretical examination at the end of 
the second winter session, and the practical one at the end of 
the third winter session. 
Professor Spooner said the Council had no power to carry 
out such a scheme. 
Professor Gamgee said they had authority to examine 
first upon a certain class of subjects, and then in a subsequent 
year on other subjects. 
Professor Spooner said they had no such power. They 
could only examine pupils who had received the College 
certificate of being properly educated. 
Mr. Pritchard asked what was meant by microscopies.” 
Mr. Prnes said he understood it to mean the use of the 
microscope. 
Mr. Pritchard asked how that was to be taught. 
Mr. Ernies said the students might teach themselves. In 
the same way they might teach themselves botany. The 
English schools were the only ones in which botany was not 
taught. 
Mr. Pritchard did not think it necessary to introduce it 
into the examination. 
Professor Gamgee thought Professor Sharpey did examine 
on microscopical anatomy to a certain extent at present.’ 
Mr. Lawson said he had heard that there was an exami¬ 
nation in microscopical anatomy in Edinburgh. 
Mr. Wilkinson wished to know if the propositions sus¬ 
pended by Mr. Ernes at the last quarterly meeting were 
rescinded in favour of a fresh set of propositions. 
Mr. Ernes said the propositions he now made were among 
the others which he had suspended. Pie considered he had 
been very ill-used by the Council, because from time to time 
they had postponed inquiry into the subject. He fully ex- 
