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, 
ete. 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 
