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THE VETERINARIAN, JULY 1, 1871. 
Ne quid falsi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat. — C icero. 
THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES (ANIMALS) ACT AND THE 
VETERINARY PROFESSION. 
Hitherto we have refrained from offering any comments 
upon the working of the Act relating to the diseases of 
animals, so far, at least, as it affects the members of the vete- 
rinary profession. We have adopted this course advisedly, 
and find no reason to regret having done so, as the expres- 
sion of opinion on the part of the members of the profession 
has been in no way hindered by our silence. 
From the various discussions which have taken place at 
meetings of veterinary societies, and from the statements 
which have been published by veterinary surgeons, it is 
quite apparent that the manner in which the Act has been 
carried into effect has not been satisfactory to the profession 
at large. The constitution of the Veterinary Department, 
the appointment of inspectors, and the fees which have been 
allowed for professional services, have at different times 
been made the subject of considerable animadversion. 
At the time of the passing of the Act it was doubtless 
believed that a veterinary surgeon would fill the office of 
inspector in every district in which a properly qualified 
practitioner could be found ; and when the local au- 
thority of one county after another selected police constables, 
in the stead of professional men, as cattle inspectors, it was 
anticipated that veterinary surgeons would protest against 
these proceedings, and even far more emphatically than they 
were found to do. Had veterinary surgeons as a body 
offered a calm remonstrance against the steps which were 
taken to supersede their functions, their case would have 
met with consideration, and there is no reason to doubt that 
