240 SYNOPSIS OF CONTINENTAL VETERINARY JOURNALS. 
of the Schools would be between candidates considered fit by 
the colleges, and the travelling expenses of candidates un¬ 
successful at the primary examination be saved for their 
families. 
M. Lecornue, delegate for the Society of Nantes, required 
that the conditions of admission should be somewhat similar 
to those of the Bachelor of Science degree (Baceolaureat es 
Sciences) so as to prepare for the time when the degree itself 
may be demanded. The higher the instruction required the 
more will the profession increase in public esteem. We need 
not consider the expense of this to the families of candidates. 
As things are at present many families spend more money in 
keeping future candidates at preparatory establishments, 
where only the matter required for admission to the schools 
is taught, than an extended university education would have 
required. 
“ Thus the praiseworthy sentiment which prevailed at 
the Congress has been to raise the profession gradually by 
the more complete preliminary instruction of those destined 
to become members of it. But it seems to me this would ill 
serve the interests of the profession by attempting progress 
without the necessary transitions which the nature of things 
requires. Also I expressed the thought that the time was 
not yet for requirement of university degrees by veterinary 
candidates such as many who took part in the discussion 
deem necessary ; for, firstly, the profession is not so lucra¬ 
tive that we can exact from candidates destined for it the 
conditions required for university degrees. If it were dis¬ 
embarrassed from the interference of empiricism by legal 
restraints or by advancement of public opinion, it could be 
more exacting than in the present state of things. We cannot 
offer enough to sanction high requirements. Would not a 
more rigorous programme of conditions than the present be 
inconvenient, by closing the schools to the sons of poor 
families, farmers, farriers, and empirics who, in consequence 
of their calling, often are destined for the profession, and are 
well adapted for it ? It is necessary to distinguish between 
intelligence and the culture of intelligence. Has not expe¬ 
rience shown, often strikingly, that such candidates, after 
entry in to our schools with education only sufficient for the 
examination, have by their work attained a leading position, 
in advance of all their fellow-students who have had com¬ 
plete university education. We must not, then, shut out 
from our schools the sons of poor men, for they have proved 
our best recruits ! Besides, has not the present system given 
general satisfaction ? Does it not encourage university 
