672 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
We advance these criticisms in a friendly spirit; indeed, 
having the welfare of the profession at heart, we could 
scarcely be suspected of writing in a hostile spirit, and we 
are convinced that the members of the various veterinary 
medical societies will accept our suggestions amicably, even 
if they elect to disregard the advice which they convey. 
THE VACANT CHAIRS AT THE EDINBURGH VETERINARY 
COLLEGE. 
In the Veterinarian for July, we informed our readers 
that it had been decided that, for the future, vacant profes- 
sorial chairs at the Edinburgh Veterinary School were only 
to be given to those candidates who had been successful at 
a competitive examination ; and also that certain gentlemen 
had been appointed examiners of the competitors for the 
chairs now to be occupied. 
We have since then learned that a meeting of the board 
was held in July, when several candidates offered them- 
selves and passed a very creditable examination — one gentle- 
man in particular eliciting most favorable commendation. 
At a subsequent meeting of the College Trustees, how- 
ever, instead of the election of candidates who had proved 
themselves most competent being proceeded with, it was 
resolved that other candidates should be advertised for. 
A weekly contemporary for July 31st contains the fol- 
lowing notice : 
“ At a meeting of the magistrates and Council of Edin- 
burgh, as trustees of the late Professor Dick, last week, it 
was decided to re-advertise for candidates to the vacant 
chairs of Anatomy and Cattle Pathology in the Edinburgh 
Veterinary Medical College, omitting, however, the proviso 
that they should undergo a preliminary examination on 
making their application.” 
It would therefore appear that we were in error when we 
expressed our belief that the competitive arrangement had 
