LIABILITIES OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
573 
This is a subject to which I have for many years directed 
my attention, and I flatter myself I have succeeded in obtain¬ 
ing one of the best and cheapest beds that can be had for 
this purpose. I am fully aware a more elegant one can be 
formed, but whether it would answer all the purposes of the 
veterinarian is not what I am about to discuss. I merely wish 
to direct attention to that which I have had in use for some 
six or eight years. Having had occasion, within the last few 
days, to enlarge the dimensions of the ground, it led to the 
desire to make known the plan to the profession, through the 
medium of your publication. 
Firstly, a deep hole is dug, say from three to four feet in 
depth, the size of the ground or bed wanted (it should not be 
less than from twelve to fifteen feet square), into which are 
placed bundles of furze, which are trodden down and covered 
with exhausted tan. The hole should be stuffed well with 
the furze to the top, and a few inches of tan placed upon it, and 
over this a little straw’, which will be found to form as firm 
and elastic a bed as can be made, and, when properly con¬ 
structed, be as good as india-rubber. I by this mean to be 
understood to say, that there will be found a sufficient amount 
of elasticity in it, so as to prevent the untoward accidents 
which sometimes take place in the casting of horses. 
I have often shuddered when I looked at some grounds I 
have been called upon to operate upon. No amount of straw 
will compensate for a hard, stony piece of ground. I 
have seen some horses rebound a height of several inches 
when thrown upon these terribly hard places. Besides, a 
large quantity of straw is often in the way of the operator, 
more particularly when he is using the actual cautery. 
I have thought these few remarks upon this subject might 
not be unacceptable to some of your readers, as I write from 
experience. 
ON THE LIABILITIES OF VETERINARY SUR¬ 
GEONS, AND THE PROPOSED VETERINARY 
PROTECTION SOCIETY. 
By Alex. Lawson, M.R.C.V.S., Bolton. 
I read with interest and pleasure the remarks of Professor 
Brown, and your own editorial, on this subject in your num¬ 
ber for last month, and have often thought that an association 
of the kind referred to by the professor was much wanted, 
