The Duke of Richmond and Gordon introduced on Tuesday a
new Medical Bill, for compelling all practitioners of medicine in the United Kingdom to pass a common examination, which would be determined on common principles in England, Scot- land, and Ireland, by three Conjoint Boards, who would ad- minister the new system in each of the divisions of the United Kingdom. Last year, the Bill of the Government, while estab- lishing this system in England, would have left it permissive in Scotland and Ireland,—a proposal the only effect of which would have been to send all the English students who did not wish to pass a thorough examination to Edinburgh or Dublin. This year the Government seems to have taken heart of grace, and intends to impose an adequate test on all the three divisions of the United Kingdom at once,—and in that creditable design we trust it will persevere. For a strong Government, this Government has certainly not hitherto had the courage of its opinions. But it is not too late to mend, and perhaps even this Government will yet "harass an interest" or two, moved thereto by the pure spirit of justice, before it disappears, and is no more seen.
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