222 ESSENTIALS OF VETERINARY LAW 



the large organization, and the rank of the chief 

 should be next to the Commissioner, or to his as- 

 sistant. 



For efficiency in operation, even when appointed 

 by the municipality, and paid by the same, the 

 local commissioner should be a deputy of the state 

 commissioner, and the local veterinarian should 

 be also a state deputy. It would be better if no 

 local commissioner of health be appointed with- 

 out the previous approval of the state commis- 

 sioner, and that no local veterinarian be appointed 

 without the approval of the state veterinarian. 



According to a plan tried out in Massachusetts 

 under the supervision of Professor Phelps, several 

 neighboring communities united to establish a 

 joint health office, employing the services of three 

 or more persons. To avoid possible legal ques- 

 tions one may be the officer of one community, and 

 another that of another town, but in actual work' 

 one may be the practical chief, another may look 

 after dairy and bakery inspection, another be the 

 veterinarian, and another the bacteriologist. A 

 similar plan has been tried at LaSalle, Illinois, and 

 in both it has worked well. It enables each com- 

 munity to have the services of a whole time 

 specialist in each department, and the expense is 

 reduced by decrease in number of laboratories, 

 etc. It would be well if the statutes made definite 

 provision for such establishments, for they are an 

 evident improvement upon the present adminis- 

 tration in most country communities. A some- 

 what similar scheme was contemplated in sugges- 

 tions made some time ago to the effect that the 

 health officer of the county seat be the officer for 



