... Hearing that the Faculty of Orleans granted the degree of doctor of physic for a small sum of money, and without any examination of the candidates, or even seeing them, Rabelais sent the usual fees on behalf of one Johannes Caballus, which, in Latin, means John Horse.  It was the custom at that time for learned men to Latinise their names, and Johannes Caballus had quite an imposing sound; but the wise professors were soon made aware of what a worthy member they had admitted to be one of their body, when they heard that Dr. Johannes Caballus was no other than Rabelais' mule, Jan; and in this way their practice of conferring degrees on ignorant pretenders was exposed, and they were made a laughing-stock to every one... (Chatterbox, 1885)