12 
FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE FARMERS’ AND 
GRAZIERS’ MUTUAL CATTLE INSURANCE 
ASSOCIATION. 
To the Editors of “ The Veterinarian .” 
Gentlemen, 
In your Journal of last month Mr. Tombs makes the following 
observations in reference to the Farmers’ and Graziers’ Mutual 
Cattle Insurance Association : — 
“ As things do not go on quite smooth with the veterinary 
colleges and the profession, nor with the latter and the Cattle Insur- 
ance Association, permit me to give my opinion on the different 
subjects. First, with the Cattle Insurance Society and the vete- 
rinary practitioner : — This Society ought to shew a reciprocal feel- 
ing to the profession, which has furnished it with such information 
as to enable it (the Association) to form rules and regulations for 
its future guidance. In my opinion, the regularly educated veteri- 
nary surgeon should be called in to every case of disease and lame- 
ness of insured cattle when practicable — the usual farrier in cases 
of emergency ; but as soon as the veterinary surgeon’s services are 
available, the farrier should give up the case to him ; and on no 
account whatever should the proprietor he allowed to treat the sick 
or lame beast himself ” 
I may as well pause here for a moment to add the circumstances 
which appear to have given rise to these strictures. 
In The Veterinarian for November, Mr. Cartwright, in his 
valuable paper on Veterinary Obstetricy, makes the following re- 
marks on the Farmers' and Graziers’ Mutual Cattle Associa- 
tion 
“ As many of us are veterinary surgeons to the recently established 
Cattle Assurance Association, I cannot avoid alluding to the situa- 
tions we hold in connexion with the inspectors and managers. The 
last two cases belonged to farmers in this neighbourhood (Whit- 
church), and I scarcely doubt that I could have saved them both, 
and also one that I shall mention hereafter; but, according to the 
rules of the ‘ Mutual’ (and these cases belonged to that Society), 
the ‘ Association will not interfere with the treatment of the usual 
veterinarian or farrier.’ In many cases, as in the above, the farmers 
are generally their own farriers, or get the assistance of some ig- 
norant neighbour. On the other hand, there is a rule that says, 
‘ the Association, however, will not pay for animals which may die 
from bad treatment directly caused by the owner, or by his insti- 
gation.’ Now, I would ask any veterinary surgeon (and he only 
