ANTHRAX, ETC. 349 



in his stables, and of all suspicious phenomena which justify the ex- 

 pectation of the presence of such a disease. 



" The same responsibility rests with those intrusted by the owner 

 with the care of the animals ; further, those persons who accompany 

 animals in transit ; and especially is this the case when strange 

 animals are intrusted to their care and introduced into the stables, 

 yards, or pastures of the owner. 



" Veterinary surgeons, and all those persons who make a prac- 

 tice of treating the diseases of animals, inclusive of those employed 

 at knacker establishments, are obliged, under penalty of the law, to 

 notify the proper authorities, either of the outbreak of any of the 

 named diseases, or of the appearance of any phenomena which at 

 all justify a suspicion of their existence. 



" It is the duty of the local police to at once notify the official 

 veterinarian, when they have received notification, or in any other 

 way acquired knowledge, of the outbreak of an animal pest, or of 

 the suspicion of its existence, in order to have a technical opinion 

 upon the same. 



" The state veterinarian must ascertain, and report in writing, 

 the nature, condition, and cause of the disease, and plainly state 

 whether it is an infectious disease or only a suspicious case. 



" In peremptory cases, the veterinary official may at once pro- 

 ceed, without waiting for authority from the police authorities, and 

 order the immediate quarantining and isolation of the diseased or sus- 

 pected animals, and in necessary cases appoint a guard over the same. 

 " "When this is the case, the causes for action must be given by 

 the veterinary official in writing to the owner, or his representa- 

 tives, as well as to the local police authority. 



" The selectman, or other supervising officer of the town or local- 

 ity, must order the temporary guarding of the infected or suspected 

 stable, or locality, upon requisition of the official veterinarian. 



" In order to confirm a suspicion, the local police authorities 

 may condemn and slaughter a suspected animal ; the results of the 

 autopsy must be reduced to writing (upon the official blanks) by the 

 state veterinarian. If the presence of a contagious disease is con- 

 firmed, the police have to at once order the execution of the neces- 

 sary regulations, and give notice thereof according to the prescribed 

 forms. 



" The owner may also call in the services of an approved veteri- 

 narian in all those cases where a suspected animal is condemned 

 and killed by the authorities, in order to establish the true nature 

 of the disease. 



