12 ESSENTIALS OF VETERINARY LAW 
the executives performing much of the duty which 
here must be performed by the legislative body or 
the court. 
7. Judicial Legislation. We sometimes hear of 
laws made by the courts. It is true that some- 
times the interpretation of a law made by the 
legislature either adds to, or takes from, the pur- 
pose of the framers; but the court does not make 
the law. It is the business of the courts to inter- 
pret the laws made. The court may doubt the 
advisability of the law, or the necessity for its 
passage; it may think that some other provision 
would be better; and the judge may be personally 
opposed to the enactment; but if the letter of the 
law seems reasonable, and in harmony with the 
constitution, and if the legislative body has not 
exceeded its authority, it is the business of the 
court to uphold the statute, and to put upon it 
the simplest possible construction, according to the 
form of words used.’® ‘‘A statute will not be de- 
clared unconstitutional unless its invalidity ap- 
pears beyond a reasonable doubt.’’?7 In a recent 
case in New York, where a muzzling ordinance 
was being attacked, the argument was made that 
“The court will probably have little difficulty in 
conceiving of situations where the proper use of a 
leash, or of some form of closed conveyance could 
secure perfect protection to the publie.’’ The court 
answered: ‘‘This argument, however, entirely 
begs the real question. The court has nothing to 
do with the wisdom of the ordinance; perhaps a 
less sweeping ordinance would effect the same 
16 State v. K. C. M. & B. Co. 17 State ex rel. Christian Co. 
(Ark.), 174 8. W. 248, v. Gordon (Mo.), 176 8. W. 1. 
