Virginia’s new veterinary law. 
45 
VIRGINIA’S NEW VETERINARY LAW. 
AN ACT 
To regulate the practice of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery in 
the State of Virginia. Approved , Feb. 27, 1896. 
1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, 
That from and after the first day of May, eighteen hundred 
and ninety-six, the following persons and no others shall be 
permitted to practice veterinary medicine or surgery in this 
state: 
First. All persons who, prior to the first day of May, 
eighteen hundred and ninety-six, are practicing veterinary 
medicine or surgery in this State: provided, that before the 
first day of November, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, 
they shall apply in writing to the State board of veterinary 
examiners created by this act, and furnish satisfactory proof 
that they have been in practice in this State prior to the first 
day of May, eighteen hundred and ninety-six. The State 
board of veterinary examiners shall thereupon issue to such 
person a certificate, without fee, allowing them to continue 
in practice without having to undergo an examination as 
provided by section seven of this act. 
Second. All persons who shall hereafter receive certificat es 
from the State board of veterinary examiners of this State as 
provided by section seven of this act, and who shall also 
in all other respects have complied with the provisions of 
the same. 
2. All persons who begin the practice of veterinary 
medicine or surgery in this State on or after the first day of 
May, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, and all persons who 
neglect to comply with the requirements of the first clause 
of section one of this act shall comply with the provisions of 
section seven before a certificate to practice shall be issued to 
them. 
3. Any person shall be regarded as practicing veterinary 
medicine or surgery within the meaning of this act who 
shall profess publicly to be a veterinary surgeon and offer 
for practice as such, or who shall provide for sick domestic 
animals or for domestic animals needing medical or surgical 
aid, and shall charge and receive therefor money or other 
compensation, directly or indirectly. But nothing in this 
act shall apply to residents of this State who confine their 
practice to the castration and spaying of live stock, nor shall 
