COMPENSATION 101 
sidered as that of a citizen, and not of an officer.” 
Then there would be no obligation on the part of 
the city to pay for such 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 service. 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. 
