PREFACE 



Following the publication of my "Legal Principles of 

 Public Health. Administration" there came a request 

 for a handbook which could be used as a text in veteri- 

 nary schools and agricultural colleges. About one-third 

 of the graduates from the veterinary schools take the 

 examination for entrance into the service of the national 

 government, but up to the present time there has been 

 no small text which gave them the needful information 

 as to their duties, responsibilities, and limitations of 

 authority in such service; and scientific farmers need 

 a knowledge of their legal rights and liabilities in ani- 

 mal husbandry. 



In writing the present work I have kept in mind the 

 needs of several distinct classes, and have consequently 

 divided it into four parts. The brief statement of the 

 general legal principles involved, as found in Part I, 

 is essential for all. 



Veterinarians in private practice need to know their 

 legal rights, responsibilities, and liabilities. The best 

 insurance against claims for damages is found in a 

 knowledge of the requirements of the law. The writer 

 has had his attention called to several cases in which 

 veterinarians have incurred liabilities by innocently 

 violating common legal principles. It is a mistake to 

 depend too much upon a knowledge of enacted statutes. 

 The common law is more frequently violated by vet- 

 erinarians. These principles most applicable to private 

 practitioners, as found in Part II, should be mastered. 



It is the veterinarian who is first consulted by animal 

 owners when an animal has been injured, or has con- 



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