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 veterinary 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- 
