312 ELECTION OF EXAMINERS EY CONCOURS. 
merit is to be everything, rank, party, and wealth, nothing ; 
yet standing in society is to be something. Now the expres- 
sion, “ standing in society,” is identical with rank ; com- 
monly it is an exponent of party ; practically, it is in- 
separable from the influence of wealth. The avowed doc- 
trine, and proposed practice, to say the least, appear difficult 
to reconcile. 
One word as to the concours — the election of officers by public 
examination. Theoretically, nothing can be more admirable ; 
practically, the system has long been in working on the con- 
tinent, and has afforded many proofs of its utility, not, how- 
ever, without others — (the minority, I admit, for sake of 
argument) — of a contrary tendency. But the most liberal 
legislators in educational matters have refused to apply this 
system in our country. Even Lord Brougham and his 
immortal co-founders of my Alma Mater , the parent college 
of the University of London, have not imitated the French 
in this respect, in the appointment of professors, though all 
the prizes and junior hospital offices are given by concours . 
Why the difference in the case of superior positions? It has 
been felt that men of renown and means would, in many 
cases, certainly refuse to expose themselves to a public con- 
test, in the danger of being beaten by a man who, having 
nothing to lose, flung himself with determination and cool- 
ness in the arena, and might chance to achieve success. I 
do not support this notion, I merely adduce it as a practical 
difficulty which has been felt. It is matter for question 
how far it would be expedient for the Veterinary Profession 
to sanction a practice deemed inexpedient by men whose 
learning and liberality can no more be doubted, than the 
eminence of their position, and the weight of their names. 
Supposing, however, that in the case of teachers the Vete- 
rinary Profession sanctioned the concours , should they do so 
for the examiners ? So far as I am aware, they would have 
no precedent. It would, I conceive, be indecorous. But 
would it be useful? This is the question ; in its solution, it 
must be borne in mind that the Council have full faculty 
to elect competent examiners, and to satisfy themselves of 
capability of candidates for examination. At the same time, 
the Council being elected by universal suffrage, are under 
the control of the profession, which thereby exercises imme- 
diate influence on the system by which members are ad- 
mitted into the body. With the safety afforded by the 
working of the representative system, it becomes still 
further questionable whether the radical innovation, would 
be advisable. 
