Examination Troubles.

Manawatu Herald, 13 August 1898, Page 3

Examination Troubles.

" In his " Reminiscences of a Lecturer," Dr Andrew Wilson relates some further stories of the straits of students under examination torture : — •• What is the result of the division of the cervical sympathetic nerve ?" inquired an examiner of a student who had been badgered into a state of desperation. " God knows !" replied the despairing youth. "Then," said the examiner, "am I to suppose you do not share this knowledge with the Deity?" A good story is told of a colleague of mine who, examining a student in natural history, pointed to a preparation of the cells in the stomach of a sheep. " What is that ?" said the examiner. «• Tripe," replied the student. This was a categorical but correct enough reply no doubt. As the student left the room he met a fellow-being entering. There was just time for a \vo_d in season to the coming candidate. In came student number two. He was examined on varieus objects. At last the examiner pointed to a mass of coral on the table, which had something of a cellular structure. " What's that >" was the inquiry. The student hesitated, He felt the •object. It was hard, but it was cellular. His doubts were dispelled. "That, sir," he said, "must be fossilised tripe !"

j Being asked by a pertinacious examiner in medical jurisprudence what | were the signs of recent drowning, a j student replied that he would expect that the drowned person might have clutched something in his hands. " What things do you mean ?" inquired the examiner. " Perhaps seaweed," 3aid the candidate " Anything else ?" " Perhaps sand or mud." "Anything else ?" persisted the inquisitor. " Well, sir," replied the student, at his wits' end, " perhaps in his hand you might find the proverbial straw."