14 
CATTLE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION. 
the course of treatment which is being pursued with sick stock, 
when the inspector questions the correctness of it. Besides con- 
firming the inspector’s doubts, the veterinary surgeon is to be con- 
sulted Avhenever the inspector is at a loss to decide the expediency 
of ordering cattle to be slaughtered. 
“ Although the Association do not take the treatment of sick 
stock under their own direction, yet it is desired that their vete- 
rinary surgeons should have the support and recommendation of 
their officers. 
“ This remark must be specially attended to, it having come to 
the knowledge of the directors that many animals which, in every 
probability, might have been saved by proper assistance, have 
been sacrificed to the ignorance of men pretending to a knowledge 
of the veterinary science.” — Instructions, page 11. 
Again, in the instructions for insuring horses, 
“ The agent and inspector are explicitly informed that the office 
does not undertake, and will not pay for, the medical treatment of 
sick animals. If they are not rightly attended to, the office will 
remonstrate with the owners, and endeavour to have properly quali- 
fied men employed, when reference will be made to the eligibility 
of consulting its officers. It must, however, be understood that, in 
such cases, the graduated veterinary surgeon of the district (if 
there be one) will have the preference.” — Page 42. 
I think that Mr. Tombs will allow, from these extracts, that we 
do shew a strong feeling to have the regularly educated veterinary 
surgeon employed. The practicability of doing so he very cor- 
rectly doubts. The old adage, of taking a horse to the water, &c., 
is applicable to us. We cannot, at least at present, compel the in- 
sured to employ graduated men — that must be a work of time. 
We may have the appliances for giving sound advice, and we 
may intimate punishment if our rules be not complied with; but 
where we might have a right to interfere it would be in those cases 
where the proof of negligence and want of skill would come after the 
casualty had occurred, while the coroner’s inquest would be holden 
after the fatality. Have we shewn any disposition to shield ig- 
norance or to countenance quackery in such instances 1 Certainly 
not. Mr. Cartwright writes hastily when he states that the com- 
munication which he so kindly made was “ over-ruled.” On the 
contrary, his remonstrance received the most respectful attention. 
It was made known to the agent through whose hands the party in 
question was insured, and his explanation required ; and the aver- 
ment was, that the insured had acted in ignorance of the rules, and 
had done the best he could under existing circumstances, and the 
claim was recommended to be allowed. What would Mr. Cart- 
wright have done 1 I am sure his love of fair dealing would have 
prompted him to do as we did — to pay it. 
