the Animals of the Farm, 
247 
may therefore be worth while to offer some suggestions, with 
the view of placing it in its proper position so far as it lelates 
to the veterinary treatment of farm-stock. 
First, it should be clearly understood that domestic medicine 
is restricted to the use of simple remedies. All kinds of adver- 
tised nostrums should be avoided as the essence of quackery, 
and no medicine the nature of which is not known should be 
administered under any circumstances by the tyro. 
Secondly, it should be held as a maxim of undoubted truth 
that the animal organism possesses a wonderful power of 
reparation. 
Thirdly, it should never be forgotten that while powerful 
chemical agents may interfere with the natural progress of a 
disease towards recovery, it may often be doubted if medical aid 
can materially assist it. Circumstances occur in which it is a 
question what ought to be done in the treatment of a certain 
phase of a disease ; and if the question cannot be answered 
without hesitation, the most experienced doctor would incline 
towards that system which a great medical authority pleasantly 
described as " the art of amusing the patient while nature cured 
the disease." 
Lastly, in all cases of doubt, and therefore of difficulty, it is 
desirable to seek the best veterinary aid which can be pro- 
cured. The Royal Agricultural Society, in recognition of this 
view, has from time to time endeavoured to bring its members 
into closer relation with those of the veterinary profession, and 
has always been ready to use ita widely extending influence, 
and its funds, in furtherance of this object ; not always, how- 
ever, with the success which the effort merited. 
With the view of enabling members of the Society to avail 
themselves of veterinary assistance at a moderate and fixed cost, 
it was arranged some time ago that veterinary surgeons of repute 
should be appointed in certain districts, on condition that they 
should afford their services for the remuneration which was 
fixed by the Society, and should also report to the Secretary 
the results of any inquiries which they were called upon to 
make. 
Up to the present time the appointment of district veterinary 
surgeons has not, so far as is known, been attended with the 
benefits which were anticipated ; nevertheless the scheme 
contains the nucleus of a system which is capable of extensive 
and useful development. Stock-keepers would consult their 
own interests if they placed their animals in the charge of com- 
petent veterinary surgeons whose duty it would be to inspect 
them regularly, and advise in reference to their management, 
chiefly with regard to preservation from disease. If by any 
means the general adoption of this system could be secured, 
