30 ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTION. 



On an average 3000 horses were discharged cured to the 

 demount Services weekly, and a special point was made of 'the 

 good order in which they were turned out. Stable management 

 is just as important in a Hospital as the actual treatment of 

 ailments, and I have no hesitation in saying that Veterinary 

 Hospitals excelled in their stable, and line management. It is 

 little good being authorities on the subject if the example is not 

 shown. And it was no easy task during the wet and muddy 

 times of winter to clean and groom the majority of animals, 

 foul of skin and caked with mud as they arrived from the front. 



The disposal of these animals wasted by war, their death at 

 times from absolute exhaustion, their destruction whether for 

 food or otherwise represents the saddest side to the Service 

 whose rightful mission is to cure not to kill ; but we are 

 cheered by the fact that never in the history of war were 

 sick, wounded, and enfeebled animals, tended with more care 

 and sympathetic consideration in hardships which are insepar- 

 able from war. It is right for me here also to mention the 

 kind thought of persons far off from the scene of battle, who 

 contributed so liberally with their money to lessen the hard lot 

 of the creatures engaged in war. Through the agency of the 

 Eoyal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which 

 was duly accredited as a Voluntary Aid Society by the War 

 Office, the enormous sum of £100,000 was subscribed and 

 devoted to the provision of complete Veterinary Hospitals, 

 Horse Ambulances (both horse drawn and motor), and many 

 other appliances for the benefit of disabled animals in France. 



Convalescent Horse Depots. 



In veterinary organization these institutions are not alto- 

 gether for animals convalescing after a period of residence in a 

 hospital. They are essentially for animals run down and poor 

 in condition, and requiring an extended rest. Medical and 

 surgical cases requiring special treatment are not admitted. 

 The nature of the treatment in Convalescent Horse Depots is 

 therefore feeding and building up, and it is to the careful and 

 scientific side of dieting that attention has to be paid. 



The working plant must include chaff-cutting and grain 

 crushing machinery and apparatus for boiling food. The 



