656 CATTLE ASSURANCE ASSOCIATIONS. 
experiments, its success must greatly depend upon the working 
of it. Now, in the case of one of these Associations, the “ Mutual” 
by name, it appears from Mr. Cartwright’s letter — the only source 
of information on this new subject at present within our reach — • 
that, while “ the Association will not interfere with the treatment 
of the usual veterinarian or farrier,” they have also come to the 
resolution “ not to pay for animals which may die from bad 
treatment, directly caused by the owner, or at his instigation.” 
Mr. Cartwright relates two cases of cows in labour, in which the 
treatment must, by any man possessing the slightest knowledge 
of cattle medicine, not only be denounced as “ bad,” but abso- 
lutely as gross and cruel ; such, in fact, as could emanate alone 
from persons miserably ignorant of every principle of obstetricy : 
and the result was — in the nature of things it could not have been 
otherwise — the death of two valuable cows. The treatment being 
aeknowledgedly bad , of course the Assurance Office refuses pay- 
ment for the cows, whose lives, it appears, happened to be both 
insured. Oh, no — it does not! The Assurance Company gene- 
rously reimburse the farmers. Why ] Because they deem it im- 
politic — and wisely, so far as the success of their infant institution 
is concerned — to “ give offence to the farmers a body of men 
on whom they are manifestly dependent for their ‘assured stock. 
Now, we would fain offer here a word or two of advice both to 
the assurers and to the assured. Firstly, we would say to the Asso- 
ciation, receive no assurance for any head of stock up to or more 
than its full value : a less sum will sufficiently protect the pro., 
prietor, and remove from him — supposing him to be disho- 
nestly inclined — every inducement to take away or abridge the 
life of his assured beast. Next, we would say, give consent 
to no man, in a case of danger, medically attending upon his 
own sick beast. Neither give your sanction to the attend- 
ance of any uncertificated practitioner of veterinary medicine 
or farriery; for, once do but that, and you throw the door 
wide open to every ignoramus of a covvleech, every common 
country blacksmith and bell-hanger ; and the consequences must 
be, that you will have to pay for cattle innumerable absolutely 
murdered by the doctor. Had we cattle insured in your office, 
and you chose to suffer us to call in, when they were sick, any 
person, yclept a cow-doctor, we might choose — supposing we felt 
