ITALY. 307 



In special cases tlio minister may authorize an officer to 

 exceed the maximum limits mentioned above. In such a case 

 an officer, in addition to the horse allowance, must have 

 deducted from his pay each month 61. 04 for each $48.75 or 

 fraction thereof until the debt has come within the limits 

 mentioned. These horses, to whatever category they may 

 belong, must be paid for within three years. After the last 

 payment the horse becomes the property of the officer. When 

 such a horse becomes unfit for service on account of physical 

 defects, infirmities, or vices, the permanent council of admin- 

 istration, as well as that of the regiment to which the officer 

 belongs, assisted by a veterinarian, examines the horse and 

 gives authorization for its sale, the proceeds to be paid to the 

 remount service if the debt has not yet been liquidated. 



Horses belonging to the special category A are drawn from 

 those of the cavalry school, recognized to be in sound condi- 

 tion, of good disposition, well broken, and from 7 to 12 years 

 old, and are selected by a commission composed of two 

 general officers, and one superior veterinary officer. This 

 commission fixes the prices, which must not exceed $307.50 

 per horse. 



Special category B horses are between 4^ and 7 years old, 

 and are acquired either abroad or from the studs. In the 

 former case their price does not exceed $307.50 each. In 

 the latter case they have, according to the price established 

 by the depot council of administration, a value of from $224 

 to $202.50 each. 



Horses of the ordinary categories are selected in the cav- 

 alry regiments by commissions nominated and presided over 

 by the commander of the brigade and composed of one field 

 officer, two subaltern officers, and one veterinary officer for 

 each regiment. 



The horses are classed as follows : 



First category, those from 5 to years of age. 



Second category, those from to 12 years of age. 



Third category, those of 12 years of age and more. 

 The minimum height of the horses is : 



For the first category, 14f hands. 



For the second and third categories, 14| hands. 

 The cost is as follows : 



First category, between $224 and $175.50. 



Second category, between $165.75 and $00.50. 



Third category, $87.75 and lower. 



