696 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION K. 



As far as can be ascertained from available information, it 

 appears that official recognition of the veterinarian by the then 

 Colonial Governments dates from about the time pleuro- 

 pneumonia contagiosa was introduced into Victoria (1857), when 

 the disease was diagnosed by the late Mr. Henry Wragg, 

 M.R.C.V.S., and it is believed that the first veterinary surgeon 

 to hold a Government appointment in Australasia was the late 

 Mr. Graham Mitchell, M.B.C.V.S., who acted as consulting 

 veterinary surgeon to the Stock Department of Victoria for about 

 three months, when he resigned, owing to his views and those 

 of his lay chief not coinciding. This conflict of views between 

 professional advisors and lay administrators has ever been a 

 fruitful source of trouble, and has frequently been an obstacle 

 to satisfactory progress. Forty years ago it was acutely felt by 

 the veterinary advisors of the Government, who were seldom con- 

 sulted unless circumstances had arisen, often of a critical nature, 

 which compelled the responsible officers to appeal to the pro- 

 fessional man for advice and support. Sometimes the advice 

 given was not acted upon; it not being considered politic to 

 adopt the measures recommended, or, as frequently happened, 

 preference was given to advice from other sources. Fortunately 

 among our pioneers were men of indomitable character and 

 irresistible persistence, who, notwithstanding repeated official re- 

 buffs, freely gave to the public per medium of the press, advice 

 that should have been sought officially. It is not possible to 

 adequately value the services they rendered their country in thus 

 influencing departmental activities in the suppression of animal 

 plagues. Nor is it possible to form an approximate estimate 

 of the losses that ensued on occasions when advice tendered was 

 ignored. With reference to the latter, one need only recall the 

 incident that occurred in connexion with the first outbreak of 

 anthrax in Australia, which took place in the county of Cumber- 

 land, New South Wales, when the Government was advised to 

 immediately quarantine the affected flock of sheep, and burn the 

 carcasses of all dead of the disease, advice which, if it had been 

 accepted, would have prevented the subsequent spread of anthrax 

 with its calamitous consequences. 



After many years of strife, the claims of the profession for 

 proper recognition, as with all claims based upon intrinsic merit, 

 gradually became acknowledged, and in the fulness of time a 

 few veterinarians were appointed to official positions, chiefly of 

 a subordinate nature, in connexion with those Departments ad- 

 ministering affairs of animal health. The efficient and satis- 

 factory manner in which the holders of these positions carried 

 out the duties of their respective officers led to further appoint- 

 ments, so that towards the close of last century fairly extensive 



