102 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
and we distinctly deprecate the adoption of a course of action 
which mav not be in accordance with the views of the teachins: 
colleges. We do not imagine that reasonable propositions will 
be met by opposition^ and it is not to be expected that any irra¬ 
tional or impracticable suggestions will emanate from a body 
of men competent to deal with the subject. One thing we 
hold to be barely possible—we view the possibility with appre¬ 
hension—that is_, an attempt to introduce an apprentice¬ 
ship clause.^^ And in the hope of avoiding this catastrophe, 
we venture to tell the profession and the Council that the 
matter is quite out of their province. Admitting, as we 
readily do, their right to regulate the manner and subjects 
of the examinations, we contend that they have no power 
to dictate the method of acquiring knowledge. And whether 
a pupil learns the practice of his profession as an apprentice 
with a veterinary surgeon, or as a student under the direc¬ 
tion of the profession, is a matter of no consequence to the 
examiner, so that the required proof of proficiency is 
given. The time has come for some movement to be made, 
and we hope to see a system of progressive advancement in 
the character and extent of the examinations rather than an 
abortive effort to effect everything at a stroke; for this 
reason some alteration in the bye-laws of the kind suggested 
by Professor Gamgee last year would be desirable, enabling 
the Couneil to make any necessary alterations at onee by 
resolution, without the necessity of suspending or altering 
laws to meet every trifling change of circumstance. 
McBEIDE e;. WILLIAMS AND DALZELL. 
We publish in extenso a report of this extraordinary trial, ‘ 
that our readers may be put in possession of all the facts of 
the case as described in evidence. Our first impression was 
to select those facts for publication which seemed to be of 
the greatest importance, but a careful perusal of the whole 
case showed that justice would not thereby be done to either 
party. It is not unlikely that we shall hear more of this 
matter, and that it will again come before our law courts. 
