592 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
settled without any attempt at legislation, which might be 
conflicting in its character, and at best could not effect so 
much as, we may hope, will now be attained in a far more 
legitimate manner by the spontaneous action of the schools. 
In the present day a good general education is not an 
expensive luxury—not one which is difficult of acquirement 
by the middle classes—and the Council of the Royal College 
has clearly arrived at the conclusion, that no extension of the 
subjects of study, or increase in the severity of the final 
examination will avail, until there be an improvement in the 
education of those who intend to pursue the study of veteri¬ 
nary science. As the matter now stands there is more 
taught at the colleges than can be well learned by the majo¬ 
rity of the class; and to raise the standard of the final 
examinations, under the present conditions, will be tanta¬ 
mount to a wholesale rejection of candidates for the* diploma. 
With a more highly educated class of students there would 
exist no difficulty in respect of an extension of the curri¬ 
culum, and a proportionate increase in the severity of the 
final test; and assuming, as we have a right to do, that the 
immediate result of the establishment of an examination by 
the College of Preceptors will be the advancement of the 
candidate’s education to the standard required by the colleges, 
the council may with some confidence proceed to the re¬ 
arrangement of the examination for the diploma; first, by 
devoting more time to properly test the pupil’s proficiency in 
certain details of practice, without a knowledge of which it is 
impossible for a young man to acquit himself creditably on his 
entrance into professional life, and then gradually adding 
such other tests as the progress of education may render 
necessary. 
Two courses were open to the council ; it might have 
attempted to make the examination for the diploma so''strict 
that none but well educated and competent men could pass 
it; if this course had been determined upon it would have 
been perfectly legal; its success, however, is more than 
doubtful. 
On the other hand, it was open to the council to endeavour 
to move the authorities of the schools to use all the means 
in their power to improve the education of candidates for the 
