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96 b€E TUODS OF SOCiAL REF0R.W.
by competition, and a general account of the examinations
and of the organisation in which tho Civil &errant takes his
place. The evidence against selection by competition aeems
to come to this, that, after a most complete inquiry, the worst
that can be made out against tho ‘( Competition Wallahs” is
that some of them do not ride well, and that there is a doubt
in some cases about the polish of their manners, or the sweetness
of their culture.
Doubt, indeed, was thrown by some writers upon the
physical suitability of selected candidates ; but on this point
a most romarkeblo fact was brought to light. All t,he candidates
for tho Indian Civil Service have to undergo two strict
medical cvaminations before Sir William Gull, so that this
ornillent physician is ab10 to speak with raro authority as to
tho physical health of tho candidates. This is what ho says
(Report,, p. 36) : (‘ I still continue to bo impressed with the fact
that. a sound physical constitution is a necessary clement of
snccess in these competitive esaminations. Tho men who
hnvo been rejected have not failed from mere weakness of
constitution, but (vith only a solitary exception or two) from a
mechanical defect in the valves of the heart in otherwise
strong mon, and for tho most part traceablo to over-muscular
exercises. , . . There is a somowhat prevalent opinion,
that the courscs of study nom requirod for tho public service
are calculated to weaken tho physicnl strength of candidates.
Experience docs not only not confirm this, but abundantly
proves that the courso of life which conduces to sound
intellectual training, is equally fnvourablo to the physical
health of tho student.”
Unless then we are prepared to reject the opinion of the
physician who has had. the best possible means of forming
a sound conclusion, a competitive examination is actually a
good modo of selecting men of good physical health, so closely
are tho mental and bodily powers correlated 89 a general
rule.
It is impossible that I should in a single article treat of
more than two or three of the principal arguments which may