806 
PRESIDENT^ BANQUET IN BIRMINGHAM. 
particularly necessary on the present occasion, after the very eloquent 
and discursive manner in which the toast has been proposed by 
Mr. Gamgee. I certainly am of opinion with Mr. Gamgee, that 
the progress of our profession in a great measure, if not entirely, 
depends on the degree of education and general intelligence existing 
among its members ; and that the united efforts of the various 
schools, together with those of the Council and the Boards of 
Examiners, are more than ever necessary to achieve and maintain 
this most desirable result. Reference has been made to the relations 
existing between the Examining Boards, the Council, and the schools. 
Now I think these are pretty well defined. The duties of the 
examiners are simply those calculated to elicit the amount of pro¬ 
fessional knowledge which it is expected a student ought to possess, 
to qualify him to practise the veterinary art successfully, and to see 
that the public, as well as the profession, is protected against the 
mischievous results that would ensue, were improperly 'educated 
men allowed to practise, with the authority of the Royal College 
of Veterinary Surgeons. It is indeed a source of much regret, 
that the curriculum of study at present enforced at our schools 
should be so limited, as to prevent the Examining Boards looking 
for more practical knowledge from the candidates who present 
themselves; but I trust the day is not far distant when a more en¬ 
lightened era will be inaugurated, by the introduction of a more 
thoroughly practical and extended course of study. I am sure my 
fellow-examiners will coincide with me as to the urgent desirability 
of this step, for nothing strikes us more forcibly at these examina¬ 
tions, than the need there is for improvement in those branches of 
knowledge which are essentially of a practical character. Let it 
not be understood for a moment that I wish to detract from the 
value of those more scientific studies on which our profession is 
based. On the contrary, I think their value cannot be overrated ; 
but, at the same time, theory must be judiciously combined with 
practice, science with utility, and the functions of the brain with 
the use of the hands. Therefore, gentlemen, in returning you my 
most sincere thanks, and those of my coadjutors in the Courts of 
Examination, let me assure you that the welfare of the profession 
is ever before us, when we assume the responsible functions with 
which we have the honour to be invested ; and if any proof of 
this were necessary, I need only point to the sacrifice of time we 
can so ill afford to make when fulfilling those important duties. 
Mr. Edward Colman Dray, on rising, remarked that the toast 
that had been intrusted to him deserved more eloquence than he 
possessed, and he also begged to state that he was unaware, on 
entering that room, that he should have either to propose or respond 
to a toast; ergo, this circumstance must be his apology for the 
few very crude and disconnected remarks that he had to offer. He 
certainly could not help feeling highly flattered by having the 
honour of what may certainly be considered the toast of the evening 
intrusted to his care. He was sure the language of Cicero or De¬ 
mosthenes could not do justice in expressing how much we are 
