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YORKSHIRE VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
ing a particular view of the case. Now, he earnestly entreated 
them to divest their feelings of preference, and remember 
they were called upon to aid courts of justice in arriving at 
sound, and true, and just conclusions. The next point to 
which he begged to call their attention was the necessity 
for using the plainest possible language in giving evidence, 
carefully avoiding technical and scientific terms, and all such 
displays of learning as might seem pedantic. Such displays 
laid witnesses open to the ridicule of the lawyers on the 
side opposed to that which the pedantic evidence favoured.^ 
This important advice, from such high authority, cannot be 
too often reiterated, as we must all more or less plead guilty 
of being biassed in giving our evidence in courts of justice ; 
assuming the functions of the advocate, instead of the scien¬ 
tific witness. 
It would not perhaps be altogether foreign to the subject 
of education were I to add a word or two respecting pre¬ 
liminary examinations, as to fitness for the profession. 
There are, we are told, some old laws that have never been 
enforced respecting this. Would it not be as well if these 
were rendered available, and their application revived? It 
is a day of competitive examinations for almost all govern¬ 
mental and many other offices, and knowledge never 
becomes burthensome to its possessor. This might be 
followed by some observations as to what is due from us, 
as practitioners, towards those who are placed under our 
charge as pupils, so as to render them competent to undergo 
these examinations; and here mutual considerations would 
be called for. I am aware some members of our profession 
entertain an opinion that the term of apprenticeship required 
is too long, it being a waste of time. But I refrain from 
further comment. This address may be thought by some 
to be too cavelling or captious, which is far from my in¬ 
tention ; indeed, I have no wish to do aught that will tend 
to awaken even a controversial spirit that is not perfectly 
legitimate and desirable; but would rather that all our 
meetings should be begun and carried on with the utmost 
harmony and goodwill; ever steadily keeping in view the 
object of our associating together, namely, the general 
advancement of our profession. Although, in the language 
of the poet, we may have to 
“Learn to labour, and to wait,” 
nevertheless, let progress ever be our motto. For the 
present, we can hardly take upon ourselves to be even 
suggesters. Our motives, however, being pure, in accordance 
