116 TREATMENT OF DISEASES 



horses,'''' and being conversant with the facts in relation to the out- 

 rageous treatment they receive, must feel that a reform is most sadly 

 needed. 



A short time ago I was requested by a government oiScer to pre- 

 sent a feasible plan for making the knowledge I possess available. 

 The following was my answer: 



I am sorry to have to inform you that up to the present period 

 there exists no law authorizing the employment of competent vete- 

 rinary surgeons ; therefore, any rational plan calculated to ameliorate 

 the condition of army horses, or to prevent the many unnecessary 

 cases of disease and premature death which are now constantly oc- 

 curring, or to guard against the great pecuniary losses which the 

 Government and people of this country are now compelled to sub- 

 mit to in the condemnation and forced sales of deteriorated horses, 

 cannot, as I understand the subject, be considered by the "powers 

 that be" until Congi-ess shall legislate upon the subject. I now 

 propose to inform you how I shall render the knowledge I possess 

 available. 



In the first place, I should follow the systems of instruction and 

 the organizations of the veterinary schools of London, Edinburg, 

 Alfort and Saumeer, and prepare suitable text-books, adapted to the 

 wants of a nation, of a people, who have never given the subject 

 that attention which its importance demands. 



In the selection of pupils I should favor the excellent plan pro- 

 posed by Gen. McClellan, which is as follows : " The pupils for the 

 veterinai'y school might be selected from among the best recruits ; 

 indeed, it is not improbable that the advantages of such an institu- 

 tion would induce excellent men to enlist for the purpose of availing 

 themselves of its benefits. Should such be found to be the results, 

 it would be well to require them to enlist for longer than the usual 

 time, as a compensation for the time spent at the school," Cavalry 

 ofBcers, farriers, or blacksmiths, should be permitted to attend lec- 

 tures on anatomy, physiology, and the obvious diseases and lame- 

 nesses of horses. 



In cases of emergency, a competent veterinarian should be em- 

 ployed in each cavalry regiment, whose duty it should be to select 

 an intelligent farrier from each company, and instruct such person, 

 in a brief and practical manner, on the management of cavalry 

 horses in camps, the prevention of diseases, and the most rational 

 method of treating diseases incident to camp life. 



Should it be found impossible to secure the services of a sufficient 

 number of competent veterinarians for the above purpose, let those 

 who have shown themselves qualified, by an examination before a 

 medical board, march from camp to camp, give instructions, see that 

 the sick and disabled are separated from healthy animals, and that 

 the former be placed in a covered hospital, and then issue special 

 regulations for the use of mounted troops in garrison and the field, 

 for the purpose of guarding against the consequences of ignorance 

 and abuse of the animal machine. 



It would be advisable to establish a veterinary professorship at 

 West Point, and there locate the JSTational School. The Govern- 

 ment has there a very fine French model of the horse, a skeleton, and 



