18 ESSENTIALS OF VETERINARY LAW 



When there is a question as to the interpreta- 

 tion of the law, or to use a legal phrase, when there 

 is a question as to points of law, the case may be 

 appealed. The matter is then presented to an 

 appellate, or to a supreme court. Here the mat- 

 ter is heard before from three to twelve judges 

 who give their attention to the questions of law, 

 rather than questions of fact. If the decision in 

 the appellate court is still unsatisfactory to one 

 of the parties, the case goes to the supreme court. 

 The decision of a state supreme court is conclusive 

 as to the law of that state, except in so far as a 

 question of national law may be involved. These 

 appellate and supreme court decisions are gen- 

 erally published, and it is to these that ''cita- 

 tions" are made. Where the members of the 

 higher court do not agree, this fact is stated, with 

 the opinion of the dissenting judges, in many 

 cases. The decisions or opinions are discussions 

 of the points of law involved, and depend largely 

 upon previous decisions on similar points, and 

 they serve as precedents for future decisions. 



There are three factors which tend to prevent 

 appeal. The points or value involved may be of 

 insufficient consequence ; or, the person dissatisfied 

 may be financially unable; or, the parties may be 

 satisfied that the case has really been decided by 

 some previous decision. 



The veterinaiy profession is a part of the gen- 

 eral medical profession. As a profession it is as 

 yet "in short dresses." The number of real vet- 

 erinarians is small, relatively, and there are as 

 yet few states in which there has been an attempt 

 to regulate the practice. In contrast, the gen- 



