WEST OF SCOTLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 361 
tidence that you will do so dispassionately, without party 
feeling, and with the single end in view of promoting the 
public good. 
Mr. Anderson took especial notice of the V Disease Cattle 
Prevention Bill,"” and called the attention of the members to 
the Veterinarian for April, which contained a summary account 
of a few points under the head of “ Diseased Cattle.” 
These points he considered too stringent, and if allowed to 
come into effect, would tend considerably to the dealer's dis¬ 
advantage, without lessening the evils they were intended to 
remove ; not to speak of the very great amount of care that 
would be necessary for the best-informed inspector to say, 
often at one examination, whether the animal was possessed 
of what is called an infectious disease or not. 
To place such powers in the hands of one inspector, or 
even two, would also be unwise, as it placed him too far 
beyond the owner, and under the control of no one. A com¬ 
mittee ought to be formed to consider all questions affecting 
immediately the trade in markets, so that no delay might be 
caused, and as little injury done to the stock-owner as 
possible. 
He hoped that those various points would be well con¬ 
sidered when the Bill passed through committee, and 
altered so that the trader in cattle should not be punished 
for an act he has no control over, and was often ignorant of 
his cattle being diseased. 
Mr. McBryde thought that this Bill had an important 
object in view, and although not perfect in all its parts, con¬ 
sidered that the points referred to by Mr. Anderson might 
be modified in committee, but could not, in his opinion, be 
materially altered. The fact was well known that many 
farmers had lost almost all their stock by purchasing a 
diseased cow in the market; so to prevent parties exposing 
even those supposed to be affected, heavy penalties were 
necessary. 
It was also necessary to place the inspector as distant from 
the control of the owner as possible, in order that he might 
not be swayed or deterred from duty by threats. Although 
the Bill contained some things difficult to execute and very 
stringent on the dealer, he would hail it as a useful measure 
if it lessened the amount of the diseased meat sold, but 
more especially if it prevented those infectious diseases which 
scourge the country and bring many to ruin. 
Mr. Pottie was very much of the same opinion as Mr. 
Anderson, and thought we should not leave unconsidered 
the interest of the agriculturist or dealer, seeing our profes- 
xxxvii. 24 
