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 



1 6* 



