872 ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
pected after the last quarterly meeting that a meeting would 
have been called on the subject. ‘ It was a year and a half 
since he had been requested to make certain suggestions. 
Mr. Hunt said the difficulties attending the question had 
been the cause of its postponement from time to time. He 
thought every member of the Council had taken the matter 
into deep consideration, hut the question that arose in their 
minds was whether it did not require a great deal of caution 
before they took such a step. They must also consider 
Avhether or not the colleges could be expected to educate up 
to the point proposed. 
Professor Spooner: Don’t forget the examiners who have 
to examine. 
Mr. Himt considered there would be no difficulty Avith 
regard to that. He considered the second proposal the most 
important of the whole. Most of the failures of young 
veterinary surgeons Avas caused by their Avant of practical 
knoAvledge. So long as this state of things continued, farriers 
Avould be employed. He regarded AAuth favour the proposal 
to have the examination in Avriting. Many a young pupil 
Avas staggered by being placed before the examiners for oral 
examination, Avho Avould feel more at home Avith Avritten 
questions. They would, by such an arrangement, not only 
search the student’s knoAvledge more thoroughly, but do 
greater justice to those who felt unnerved Avhen orally ques¬ 
tioned. Botany Avas almost more intimately connected Avith 
the veterinary than Avith any other profession. All should 
have some knoAvledge of the grasses and vegetables Avhich 
herbivora and graminivora eat. Microscopies Avas at pre¬ 
sent slightly touched upon, but it might advantageously 
be enlarged. He regarded the propositions of Mr. Ernes 
as essential to the turning out of a practical veterinary 
surgeon. 
Professor Spooner asked Mr. Hunt if he thought it Avas 
possible to impart such knoAvledge to any pupil Avho had 
had no prior education. 
Mr. Hunt thought more practical knowledge Avould be 
acquired by the pupils if they Avere inducted into the duties 
of dressing, and not alloAved to let the groom do it. 
Professor Gamgee suggested that a committee should be 
appointed to consider the subject. An examiner’s task in 
discriminating betAveen the good and the bad Avould be much 
easier if there Avas a practical test. 
Mr. Wilkinson said a committee had been sitting for a 
year and a half, and this Avas the result. 
il/r. Fleming said the committee had held special meetings. 
