COMPENSATION 101 



sidered as that of a citizen, and not of an officer. 2'' 

 Then there would be no obligation on the part of 

 the city to pay for snch service. Where the act 

 is legally authorized by such statute, ordinance, 

 resolution or proper regulation, the fact of calling 

 would impose on the city government an obliga- 

 tion to pay. 



When a veterinarian responds to a call given 

 by a third party, in order to charge the call, or 

 calls, against the said third party, he should be 

 sure that he has a definite agreement on the part 

 of such third party to pay for the sei'vice. If 

 possible, he should have the agreement made in 

 writing, signed by the said third party, and the 

 agreement should state in general terms the limits 

 of the service required. If not in writing it should 

 be made in the presence of one or two reliable wit- 

 nesses. Many physicians carry prescription blank 

 books with carbon sheets for the preservation of 

 duplicates. A short order, written on such a blank, 

 and signed by the said third party is sufficient, 

 and the duplicate should be torn out and pre- 

 sented to the party so signing, for his own pro- 

 tection in case of a misunderstanding. Duplicate 

 short reports of findings may be made in the same 

 way for possible future reference in case of acci- 

 dents. Where there is a possibility of future legal 

 determination of liability these records are of the 

 greatest importance, and negative findings are of 

 as much importance sometimes as those which are 

 positive. The fact that there is no record of a 

 broken bone is not evidence that there is no such 



26 Public Health, 376. 



