142 LANCASHIRE VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
nary surgeon used ordinary diligence and sagacity in operations, and in 
giving opinions, using good instruments, being steady, and taking every 
possible care, then he could not be liable for any loss that may arise. 
Mr. T. Taylor, A. Lawson, T. Hopkin, John Lawson, &c., all coin¬ 
cided with the opinions of the above gentlemen. 
Mr. Peter Taylor thought the responsibility of the veterinary surgeon 
to be very great. Your clients do not bring forward a claim against 
you at the time; but when they find one or two experts whose opinion is 
against you, then they try what they can do. Mr. Lawson says—“ Who 
can expect a young veterinary surgeon coming from the walls of a 
college to be able to do everything right ?” I contend he is liable 
if he does not know, and if experts say he has made a gross mistake we 
have a great difficulty to contend with. All horses are different— 
no two alike, and men differ in opinion of them constantly, being per¬ 
fectly honest. What we must endeavour to do is our duty honestly 
and straightforwardly, giving our opinion to the best of our ability, 
and then risk the consequences. 
Mr. Greaves observed,—The discussion on this subject will have done 
our profession a great service if we only arrive at a clear, enlightened, 
and logical conclusion—a conclusion which will not only commend itself 
to our senses, but which will be at the same time legally sound, and a 
safe protection. 
I have studied this subject as carefully and as earnestly—nay, per¬ 
haps more carefully and more earnestly than the majority of my 
professional brethren have done. At the time I compiled my paper 
upon this subject, which I read before the Liverpool Association in 
1868, I read every passage in Oliphant’s ‘Law of Horses/ and every 
paper that I could find which had reference to a veterinary surgeon’s 
responsibility. I was so anxious to make my paper worthy of my pro¬ 
fession that I sought the opinion of Messrs. Loch and McLaren, of 
London, the solicitors to the college. They considered the whole matter 
carefully and fully, and gave me their opinion; they also advised me to 
get the highest counsel’s opinion on the subject. I gave them authority 
to obtain this, which they did. These several opinions will be found 
recorded at p. 256 and following pages in the Veterinarian for 1868. A 
short time ago I received a letter from Mr. Tom Taylor. It contained 
a solicitor’s opinion upon this subject, the pith of which was that we 
were bound to bring a sufficiency of skill and a sufficiency of care in 
the performance of every operation, and in the examination of every 
horse as to soundness. Where this is not exercised we deserve to be 
made to suffer. This inefficiency and negligence must be gross and 
evident to ordinary thinking men. But where proper skill and care are 
practised, and such opinion is disputed and contested, then he says we 
must get the opinion well supported by quantity and quality of veteri¬ 
nary evidence. 
Since our last meeting I, in company with a solicitor of eminence, have 
carefully drawn up a form of certificate, which I now propose to this 
meeting, and through it to my profession. 
jF orm of Certificate. 
I hereby certify that I have this day, at the request of Mr.-, 
of this city, examined a bay gelding in respect to soundness, and that I 
consider such horse to be five years old and sound. 
This certificate is given, after careful examination, to the best of my 
judgment and belief, but subject to my not being held pecuniarily re¬ 
sponsible for the opinion expressed in such certificate. 
(Signed) Thomas Greaves. 
