202 ESSENTIALS OF VETERINARY LAW 



to use this method for misleading the public. 

 Though the national government thus tries to pro- 

 tect the citizens in their lives and property, it does 

 not in the least relieve the manufacturers and 

 dealers from their responsibility and liability. It 

 is the part of the government supenasors to check 

 any suspicious tendencies, but the real liability 

 rests with the manufacturing company. Some 

 companies have learned this lesson, but some 

 others still seem at times willing to take risks 

 which should not be run. There should be no 

 diphtheria antitoxin sent out where there is a 

 possibility of there being tetanus infection in the 

 serum; nor hog cholera serum until tests have 

 shown the absence of the foot and mouth disease 

 virus. One serious outbreak of tetanus occurred 

 through virus manufactured under a municipal 

 health department, "to save money," and not 

 under federal supervision. This is not a business 

 for non-experts to engage in. So long as the high- 

 est degree of care and diligence is used the manu- 

 facturer will be protected by the courts; but if, 

 to reduce expense, or because of commercial pres- 

 sure, it be shown that he ' ' runs the risk ' ' and harm 

 results, he should be prosecuted criminally, and 

 he should also be forced to pay full damages for 

 the harm done. A firm manufacturing vaccine 

 virus rented calves for that purpose. After col- 

 lecting the vaccine serum the calves were returned 

 to the renters, sold and shipped to distant parts, 

 infected with the foot and mouth disease virus 

 through vaccination. Under the present orders 

 of the Public Health Service such an accident is 

 less likely to recur, because in addition to testing 



