A PLAN FOR A PROTECTIVE VETERINARY SOCIETY. 535 
surgeon ] Last week a farmer had two heifers attacked witli pleuro- 
pneumonia. His usual veterinary surgeon was called in. On seeing 
the cases, he intimated to his employer that they were dangerous, 
and, as they were not fit for the butcher, he should give attendance 
and medicine without any charge in the event of death. The cases 
were going on favourably; notwithstanding the fanner employed 
the universal man, and stipulated with him for a certain sum for a 
cure. Of course, the veterinary surgeon attended no more. How- 
ever, he offered to buy one of them at a fair price. The farmer 
answered that he could not sell, being under an agreement with 
the bagman. (I am just informed that one is dead.) The said prac- 
titioner says that he met the Pretender, not of 1745, but of 1845, 
and that he had the assurance to tell him before a witness that he 
had killed five — another fourteen — another six cows — all by name, 
and that he had cured a vast number, being called in after them. 
These three gentlemen are duly qualified, and some of them above 
thirty years’ standing. 
The defamation of professional character may be, and is, attended 
with serious consequences : a stop ought to be put to it. 
I would suggest, as the likeliest means I know to check such 
an evil, to form a Society under the designation of Protective, 
and all qualified gentlemen to subscribe five shillings per annum to 
a fund for the purpose of prosecuting such as the above for defama- 
tion of professional character. I would include England and Scot- 
land in one society. 
If those favourable to this scheme would have the goodness to 
signify the same to the editors of this Journal, and there should be 
a general agreement, a provisional committee could be formed in 
the first instance to draw up rules and regulations, and submit 
them for the approval of the members. I am not at present impli- 
cated, but do not know how soon I may, nor does any one. 
If any practitioner has a better plan to propose, I am sure the 
profession will feel thankful to see it in the next month’s VETE- 
RINARIAN, and none more so than 
Your humble servant. 
