ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 151 
for enabling it to acquit itself of its very highest duty, by 
seeking to make some important advances. 
The Council has, from time to time, been made conscious 
of the very little progress which has followed the existing 
system of entering the schools; and is fully persuaded that 
at least one of the causes of the almost moribund condition 
of the body corporate is traceable to the pupil's being ad- 
mitted to a participation in the professional teaching, without 
having been subjected to a test as to his general scholastic 
abilities. And the Council feels it to be a reproach that the 
mode of testing which is now so extensively resorted to in all 
situations of life, where learning is necessary, has not yet 
been fully applied in the case of those whose ultimate object 
is to become members of the Royal College of Veterinary 
Surgeons. 
There are alleged difficulties in the way of amendment in 
connection with this system, but we feel sure that they are 
more imaginary than real, and are capable of easy adjust- 
men 
One of the difficulties which presents itself relates to the 
professor's interest in the admission fees ; but we think that 
we are justified in concluding that any apprehension on this 
head must be unreal, for, in the instances in which the 
educational test has been introduced, the number of students 
has increased, and it has been said that there has been an 
appreciable advance in their general intelligence. In this 
circumstance we have a full assurance that the interests of 
the professors will proceed pari passu with those of the Royal 
College and those of the public, which are so closely and 
inseparably connected. 
Another apparent difficulty is shadowed forth in that phase 
of the subject which bears upon the obligations which the 
Royal College may be said to be under to those youths who 
have now commenced their study of veterinary medicine, 
with the prospective intention of completing their professional 
education at one of the schools in the United Kingdom. 
Upon this point we may venture to express an opinion that 
the proposed examination should be subject to such modifi- 
cations as the interest of those students and the obligations 
which the Royal College is presumably under may demand. 
So that, although the necessity for a much higher standard 
of education cannot be exaggerated, the proposed system of 
examination will be gradually increased, and not carried into 
full effect for some time. 
We have reason to believe that the other schools are 
prepared to give their adhesion to the scheme which we are 
