470 
TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING 
disposal for the completion of our task. Indeed, what time is allowed to us for 
the formation of our judgment, and for the preparation and the delivery of our 
certificate ? A very insufficient time, as we all know. It may vary from a few 
minutes to perhaps a few hours. Is that sufficient? How in such a length, or 
rather such a “ shortness” of time, are we to detect some of the special forms of 
disease, peculiar intermittent lameness, roaring, perhaps intermittent hernia, 
epilesy, &c. In the European law from nine to thirty days, according to the 
‘ ‘ vice rhedibitoire ” looked for are allotted to the buyer, who thus has ample 
time to satisfy himself of the quality of his bargain, and thus also the veterina¬ 
rian has a reasonable opportunity to detect an unsound condition, which, ac¬ 
cording to our English mode, becomes impossible. 
In fact, Mr. President and gentlemen, it seems to me that in the superiority 
which I have endeavored concisely to point out in the European legislation on 
this subject, we are inevitably brought to the following conclusion? 
Under a reformed regime, when it is once established, we shall have no 
more fear of contradictory certificates—one of them asserting soundness to-day, 
to be followed by another, affirming unsoundness four or five days later, and 
vice versa —no more danger of opposing opinions amongst veterinarians employed 
as experts who discredit one another, and the general profession likewise, by 
contrary announcements of the presence or the absence of morbid conditions; 
no more decisions of judges in the courts of law directly in opposition to those of 
practising veterinarians; and, above all, no more doubts, or at least a reform of 
opinion in respect to the supposed and generally imputed dishonesty of every 
man in the community who chances to have a horse for sale. 
In respect to the consideration of the means by which such a law, after be¬ 
ing properly framed, could be made practicable, I see no reason why such a 
thing might not be effected in this country as readily as it is in the various 
European states, if we will but bring ourselves to profit by their experience and 
follow their example in framing our laws and putting them in execution, as they 
have done and are doing. 
But I have already held your attention too long, and the subject is so ex¬ 
haustless that I am almost tempted to ask you, paradoxical as it may seem in 
me, not to discuss it. I yet consider the matter to be one of such importance to 
all parties interested, and see so much injustice to be reformed, so much oppor¬ 
tunity to do good both to buyers and sellers, and so fair an opening for securing 
a benefit to ourselves in the elevation of our profession, in the performance of 
this special duty of the examination of animals on purchase, that I can scarcely 
bring myself to suspend the discussion. I trust to your good nature to forgive 
the detention to which I have subjected you, and to attribute it wholly to my 
interest—which I am sure you share with me—in the subject which I have en¬ 
deavored to illustrate. 
President Huidekoper introduced Dr. Olaf Schwartzkopff, 
Professor of Veterinary Medicine in the University of Minnesota, 
who read the following paper: 
