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EDITORIAL. 
2d. It places it in charge of the Surgeon General of the Marine Hospital 
Service, thus supplying him with the means of acquiring a body of competent 
workers, with whom he may become acquainted beforehand. 
3d. It gives him the world to choose from for directors of the two institutes, 
while it limits the selection of assistants to this country, thus providing the way 
for Americans of ability to rise to chief positions. 
4th. It gives a chemist to each institute, thus keeping up the stimulating 
rivalry. 
5th. It opens the way to independent workers, and thus increases the num¬ 
ber, while the country has the benefit of the results. 
6th. It opens the way for students, thus providing the means for Boards of 
Health and Medical Schools to obtain competent men, and stimulating research 
in all parts of the country. 
7th. It tends to make our National capital a center of learning and culture, 
which should be the ambition of every citizen. 
To many this plan will be a new idea, but in our view it is • 
merely the suggestion of a new method of accomplishing the 
realization of a project of grand dimensions and vast import, for 
many years entertained by Dr. Billings, and consisting of nothing 
less than the foundation of a National Veterinary School. And 
why not ? Such an institution has long been the ideal of Dr. 
Billings, and he does well to nourish it and seek its practical ful¬ 
fillment. "We feel sure that this new step is the right step in the 
right direction, and we hope it may lead to a splendid success. 
The bill provides for a large appropriation, an amount which, in¬ 
deed, would give more funds than would be necessary for the 
purposes of a mere laboratory, and it provides also for such ele¬ 
ments as would be strictly adapted to the use of a veterinary col¬ 
lege. The details of the bill may be considered by some as in¬ 
cluding provisions of a superfluous character, and of course these, 
with all the rest, should be carefully considered. 
Whatever may be the true object of Dr. Billings—even if it 
shall prove that we are mistaken in our suggestion touching a 
National school of veterinary education—we hope that it will 
meet with every merited success, and that it may not fail to re¬ 
ceive a worthy share of consideration at the hands of our National 
legislators. 
Fifth International Veterinary Congress.— Only a few 
months now intervene before the occurrence of this important 
meeting, and if we may judge from the successes which have been 
