A NATIONAL VETERINARY POLICE SYSTEM. 379 



this true with reference to those we are now considering. This prin- 

 ciple is equally applicable to our respective States. "Without such, 

 centralization — i. e., without some one controlling, inciting, directing 

 power — nothing was ever yet accomplished. The question of regu- 

 lation is to find the proper relation of such a power to the other ele- 

 ments or powers by which it is surrounded, that the greatest good 

 for all concerned may result from their united action. This prin- 

 ciple is one of true politics. Whether it be true republicanism or 

 democracy I do not know, and care even less. The family can 

 not well exist without its head. The ship can not pursue her course 

 over the sea without her responsible captain. No business has ever 

 succeeded without its competent and accountable bead. " Too many 

 cooks spoil the broth " is a homely but true saying. As a nation, 

 we stand at present impotent before the ravages of the infectio- 

 contagious animal diseases. "We shall never get much beyond this 

 impotent stage if we adhere to the State-rights doctrine with refer- 

 ence to the suppression and prevention of these diseases. This doc- 

 trine requires special notice at the present moment. "We are ap- 

 proaching a period in our history when the different State Legisla- 

 tures will be called upon to make some kind of laws and regulations 

 with reference to this question. Reflecting men, those best compe- 

 tent to judge, are also endeavoring to urge the General Government 

 to do likewise. The real question, which must be discussed with 

 cool and unprejudiced brains, is, "Which step is the more likely to be 

 of most lasting benefit to the people of the whole country, as well as 

 those of single sections ? Dr. Bowditch, in his valuable essay, " Pub- 

 lic Hygiene in America," tells us that we have at present (1876) 

 twenty-one States without either law or regulation looking to the 

 suppression or prevention of these diseases. In ten States there 

 were some, and sixteen were reported as indefinite, while from one 

 State it was impossible to gain any information. Our markets are 

 all without the supervision of competent inspectors, notwithstanding 

 the great danger to the poorer classes, more so than the rich, of dis- 

 ease of a disturbing if not fatal character, from the consumption 

 of diseased meat. No State in this Union, so far as I know, has a 

 State veterinarian in the true sense. In some there is a veterinarian 

 attached to some agricultural society ; in others, to a cattle com- 

 mission. The few regulations which exist in some States are totally 

 inadequate to the purpose. They almost entirely fail in properly 

 defining the duties of the public. Quacks are in no way made re- 

 sponsible for the proper notification to the authorities of the pres- 

 ence of a suspected contagious disease in a given animal. In fact, 



