98 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



Services of Government Veterinary Surgeons to the 

 Public. 



It is well known that, until comparatively recently, veterinary 

 surg-eons were not in any great demand in South Africa, and those 

 that were in practice were nearly all in Government service, dealing 

 with what may be termed the ordinary contagious diseases. But the 

 country is fast leaving behind it the practices which might have 

 suited past conditions, and with the general forward trend and 

 increasing expansion of fainiing in tlie Union we need to adopt new 

 methods to keep pace with the requirements of our basic industry. 

 And in no other branch of the industry than that of our live stock 

 does this apply with more force. South Africa is primarily a pastoral 

 country, and the care of our live stock is of paramount importance. 

 During- the past years there has been a steady stream into the country 

 of pedigree live stock, and the standard of our herds and flocks is 

 rapidly improving. Combined with this we have the benefit of the 

 investigations of our Veterinary Research Division in the light con- 

 stantly thrown upon epizootic diseases, together with the rigorous 

 control of contagious diseases by our Veterinary Division, so that as 

 a natural outcome we have most perceptible evidence of the progress 

 of our live stock industry in all branches. And as a consequence the 

 demand becomes more and more insistent for services which veterinary 

 surgeons alone can render. In years gone by the individual animals 

 of our farmers were not of very great value, and the farmer as a rule 

 attended personally to the maladies of his stock, but now that 

 breeding stock have reached a high standard their owners realize the 

 need of the veterinary surgeoii and are anxious to be in such a 

 position as to be able to call for his services when required, and to 

 pay for them. 



The various ways of meeting the increasing demand for veterinary 

 services have been very carefully considered, and the matter has 

 periodically been discussed by the Agricultural Unions and other 

 farming bodies, the Government being urged to introduce some scheme 

 to meet the changing times. The Acting Principal Veterinary 

 Ofhcer, Mr. Borthwick, has proposed that a scheme by which Govern- 

 ment veterinary surgeons will give their services to farmers in connec- 

 tion with work not ordinarily required of them under the Stock 

 Diseases Act, on payment of fees according to a tarift*, be given a 

 trial in order to ascertain to what extent the services of Government 

 veterinary surgeons, if charged for, will be made use of by stock- 

 owners for veterinary work other than in connection with scheduled 

 diseases. As a beginning, it has been decided to choose one centre in 

 each Province, and for a certain period to allow the Government 

 veterinary surgeon therein to perform outside services for farmers on 

 payment of a fee. The names of the areas in which this trial will 

 operate, the tariff of charges (which will he reasonable), and other 

 particulars of the scheme will be published in a later issue of the 

 Journal ; but it may now be said that the transport will need to be 

 motor, and must be paid for by the stockowner. The income obtained 

 from the services of our othcials will be paid into Revenue. 



We hope that farmers in the areas concerned will avail them- 

 selves of the facilities provided. Depending on the success of the 

 trial is involved a principle which may have far-reaching results in 



