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THE VETERINARIAN, APRIL I, 1863. 
Ne quid falsi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat.— Cicero. 
SCAB IN SHEEP.—DEFECTIVE LEGISLATION. 
Upon the necessity of adopting measures to limit the 
extension of contagious diseases among domesticated 
animals there cannot be^ we think, a second opinion, 
however opposite may be the views of its advocates as to 
the means best calculated to effect the desired end. The 
continued high price of butchers’ meat is, doubtless, due 
in part to these losses, a circumstance in itself sufficiently 
important to warrant the agitation of the question on 
public grounds. Much of late has been written on the 
paying price” of stock, both to the breeder and the feeder, 
when compared with the returns obtained from corn; and 
agriculturists have been earnestly advised to convert a large 
proportion of their arable into pasture ground. With this 
suggestion we do not now propose to deal, notwithstanding 
its class-like aspect, nor do we intend to discuss the general 
question on the broad principle of public necessity. What, 
then, it may be asked, is our object in alluding to the 
subject ? We answer, simply to point out a great defect 
which exists in our legislative enactments with reference to 
one of these diseases, and to urge the prompt adoption of 
means to remedy the evil. 
It will be seen, in another part of our Journal, that we 
have given the details in full of a trial which has recently 
taken place in the county of Lincolnshire, respecting the 
sale of some sheep affected with scab. The parties to the 
suit hold a most respectable position, the plaintiff being a 
very extensive farmer and the defendant a large cattle- 
dealer. It was not attempted to be denied, on the part of 
the defcndent, that the sheep were diseased at the time of 
sale; indeed, on this point, the evidence was most conclusive. 
The plaintiff sought to establish an implied warranty against 
a contagious disease, in -accordance with trade custom,” 
but in this he failed, as he also did in proving that the 
