216 
JAMES LAW. 
esteem in proportion as it is debarred from the practical work of 
overcoming insanitary conditions and of instituting experiments 
to determine the best methods of sanitation. 
Finally, I have entered on the question of those affections of 
the domestic animals which are not communicable to man, but 
are transmissible from animal to animal so as to constitute veri¬ 
table plagues and to undermine our agricultural prosperity. As 
agricultural success is the true basis of all national prosperity, 
the suppression and extinction of these animal plagues is a work 
only secondary in importance to the arrest of epidemics, as na¬ 
tional wealth is only second to moral advancement. 
Here arises the question whether a board of health already 
constituted to deal with a certain number of animal plagues is 
not the most economical and efficient medium through which to 
deal with all, and whether the whole subject of animal sanitation 
should not therefore be placed in the same hands. In seeking to 
take an impartial view of this matter, I have taken into account 
the financial interests involved and the necessity for a representa¬ 
tion of these in any organization appointed to deal with the sub¬ 
ject. I have also considered the great expenditure necessary to 
a prompt extinction of the exotic animal plagues, and the need 
of an executive head who can act promptly in every emergency 
and without the fatal delays that would attend on calling meet¬ 
ings of a health board whose members reside at long distances 
from each other. Also the vast importance of a speedy extinc¬ 
tion of exotic plagues before they can gain a footing on the plains 
and boundless unfenced pasturages of the West and South, from 
which it would be hopeless to attempt their extermination. And, 
finally, the imperative need of prompt and effective work in order 
that the country may be made aware of the advantages of such 
an executive, and that there may be no excuse for a temporary— 
perhaps a final—abolition of the organization before they have 
had an opportunity to exterminate a single plague, and thereby 
to demonstrate their value to the nation. 
In view of these and other considerations an opinion is re¬ 
spectfully submitted which is, at least, the result of no hurried 
conclusion, but of careful deliberation. 
