PECULIAK TO nOKSES. 117 



various preparations of morbid anatomy, &c., &c., which, together 

 with other inaterial available, will fui-nish all that is necessary for 

 the purposes of veterinary tuition. It would also be advisable for 

 the Chief Veterinary Surgeon to issue to his subordinates such 

 orders as shall secure proper sanitary regulations in camp. The 

 horses should be as well cared for as the troops, for in cavalry and 

 artillery service, the success of a campaign, for atta,ck and defense 

 depends much on the health and efficiency of the horses. It should 

 be the business of some members of the veterinary corps to station 

 themselves at accessible pouits, and there erect temporary hospitals 

 for the reception of sick and lame horses, where the latter shall re- 

 ceive the benefits of a rational system of medication and nursing, 

 whereby, in their restoration to usefulness, many millions of dollars 

 might be saved to the Government in a short time. I contend that 

 the condemnation and ruinous sale of sick and lame horses is a wan- 

 ton waste of property; and it would be just as rational, if rational 

 at all, to sacrifice, neglect or abandon sick or disabled soldiers, sim- 

 ply because they are not in fit condition for present duty. 



It has been f^uggested that " the erection of hospitals for sick 

 horses loill cost too much.'''' This is a miserable subterfuge, ana 

 bears comparison Avith the insane policy of Farmer Neverthink, who 

 contended that when corn was sold at a high price and cost consid- 

 erable money to plant it, it was much cheaper to starve to death. 



Th^ following paragraph will serve to illustrate the necessity which 

 now exists for the services of veterinary surgeons : 



"A short time ago, 1,185 condemned horses were sold under the 

 hammer, by the Quartermaster at Washington. They brought 

 prices ranging from 820 to ^45. These animals had been in service 

 only about six or eight weeks, and cost the Government, originally, 

 from $115 to ;Sl28, and it is asserted that another sacrifice^ in the 

 same way, was to be made in the course of a few days ! In a trans- 

 action of this kind the Government loses, in the short space of a few 

 weeks, over two hundred thousand dollars, which sum would secure 

 the services of a most efficient veterinary corps, like that now at- 

 tached to the British or French armies, for a period of a year or 

 more ; and by such an arrangement over seventy per cent, of the 

 sick and disabled animals might in a short time be rendered fit for 

 the service." 



THE BITE OR STING OF VENOMOUS FLIES AND 

 REPTILES. 



In Texas, and in some of the warmer regions of this country, 

 horses suffer intensely from the sting or bite of winged insects and 

 Venomous reptiles. The best remedy, in view of counteracting the 

 effects of the same, is, plantain {plumbago major.) A small quan- 

 tity of the fluid extract of plantain should be applied to the affected 

 part, and the afflicted animal should be drenched daily with two 

 ounces of the same. 



The American Magnetic Lotion is an excellent remedy as a local 

 application. 



