LIABILITIES OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
453 
explained by the heart’s action being interfered with by the 
combined pressure imparted to its walls by the effused mate¬ 
rial, the fluid, and the adhesion of its outer serous mem¬ 
brane with that of the fibrous sac. 
I might go on to explain in detail several of the pheno¬ 
mena thus briefly alluded to, and which I feel tempted to 
do, so full of interest is the subject, but I find that I must 
desist, as I have already extended my remarks further than I 
had originally intended. 
In conclusion, I would earnestly recommend, for the benefit 
of the profession, that its members pay more attention to their 
post-mortem examinations, with a view to publish such cases 
as appear to them to possess interest. The Editors of the 
Veterinarian , I have no doubt, will give eveiy attention to all 
the communications which they may from time to time 
receive. I offer myself as a volunteer, and, if permitted, I 
shall be glad to give my feeble assistance in elucidating, as 
far as I am able, all cases that are placed in my hands, ac¬ 
cording to the time I have at my disposal. 
THE LIABILITIES OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
Bv G. T. Brown, Professor of Veterinary Surgery, 
Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. 
While we are justly seeking new privileges and immuni¬ 
ties on the basis of our charter, we are forgetting one very 
important defect in our constitution, which we may easily 
rectify ourselves. 
It is scarcely necessary to remind the profession that 
“ accidents will happen,” or, at least, constantly do happen, 
and that in spite of skill and foresight. No one will deny 
that a fractured spine may occur, even with patent hobbles 
and the most practised assistants. The accident, happily, is 
rare, and doubtless unpleasant in the extreme. We can 
imagine the black look of the owner of a valuable horse, on 
whom a simple operation has entailed so unfortunate a result, 
nor should we fail to expect an uncompromising demand for 
compensation. 
How often, again, do we observe an animal nearly suffo» 
cated from an involuntary fit of coughing during the exhibi¬ 
tion of a draught; the most careful attendant can but release 
the patient’s head under such circumstances. No precaution 
can prevent the passage of a little of the fluid into the larynx, 
