The War Office and Horse Transport. 243 



The War Office authorities enact that each 



horse ship is to be provided with a combatant 



officer (remount officer or Cavalry officer) 



and a veterinary surgeon, the former being 



in command of the horse department, and 



the latter having no more authority with respect 



to the animals than a full private. As a rule, 



the working of this anomaly is not so disastrous 



to the horses as might be expected ; because 



the amateur, being aware of his own ignorance, 



generally leaves the professional to do the 



work of both. Occasionally the unqualified 



gentleman commits the mistake of using all the 



authority entrusted to him by a too confiding 



government. For instance, when the ss. 



Cervona, on one of her horse-carrying voyages 



to South Africa, arrived one day in Algoa 



Bay, the inspecting veterinary surgeon who 



16* 



