SYNOPSIS OF CONTINENTAL VETERINARY JOURNALS. ]57 
inconveniences of measures to which they would be subjected 
if the authorities were cognizant of the presence of dangerous 
disorders in their stables. With regard to the vote which 
ought to belong to veterinarians in election Conclaves and 
Commissions of Assessment, the almost unanimous sentiment 
of the Congress has been to protest against that which the 
profession considers as unjust, the subordination of veteri¬ 
narians to other members in that they are only consulted. 
Why, since they have fitness, and in the majority of cases 
the superiority which their scientific and practical studies 
give them, should not veterinarians be placed on a level with 
the other members by having, like them, a deliberative 
voice ? Against the present state of things many influential 
members of the Congress made energetic protests, not only 
personally, but in many cases in the name of the societies by 
which they were delegated. M. Tanguy , of Landerneau, 
only was not of this opinion, for he considered that with his 
consultation only a veterinarian remains more independent, 
since almost always he decides the question in point by the 
authority which attaches itself to his opinion; and if his 
opinion is not adopted, he remains totally devoid of the 
responsibility. This optimist view of matters, however, was 
not approved by the Congress. The prevailing sentiment 
was that of ruffled amour-propre produced by the subordinate 
position in which veterinarians are kept, although in these 
Committees and Commissions to which they are admitted 
for consultation only, they may claim at least equality with 
the members who are placed above them by the fact of 
having a deliberative vote. What cause is there for this ? 
We learn from a letter sent by the Minister of Agriculture 
to the Prefet de la Seine-Inferieure of 2nd of August, 1876 
the cause of the position assigned to veterinarians in 
Committees is that, “ since the institution of such Com¬ 
mittees, without reflecting in any way on the honour of 
veterinarians, the Government made a rule never to admit 
them into the jury, as a means of protection of a position 
difficult on account of their duties and those of their 
profession. 55 This letter answered the question “Whether 
it had not been forgotten that the name of M. Abadie, 
Veterinary surgeon to the Department, should figure on the 
report of the Jury charged to distribute the prizes of the 
Horse Show of 1876.” “No, 55 answered the Minister; 
“the position of Judge as requiring complete independence 
is opposed to that of veterinarians who would have to deal 
with a matter bearing on the interests of their clients.” 
This argument certainly is forcible, but only so long as the 
