CONVALESCENT HORSE DEPOTS. 31 



articles of diet must be varied in kind and amount, and include 

 those known to produce the best results. 



Eest is necessary for the worn-out and debilitated, and there- 

 fore in the construction of Convalescent Horse Depots provision 

 should be made both for stables during inclement weather or 

 when animals are brought up for grooming, and for paddocks 

 where they can roam at liberty. Furthermore, as so much of 

 the debility, exhaustion and poverty in animals in war is from 

 lack of drinking water in the areas of operations. Convalescent 

 Eorse Depots must be bountifully supplied with good water for 

 animals to take their fill as they desire. 



The objective study of animal exhaustion and debility is real 

 business for the Veterinarian. Curious phases present them- 

 selves. Prostration for days, flickers of life, faintings, palpita- 

 tions, fits and other nervous symptoms are all to be observed, 

 then sudden return of vitality and rapid improvement. One 

 can reahse the value of a grass field or an enclosure with soft 

 sand or earth to lie on, under such circumstances. 



The operations on the Marne and the Aisne in the early days 

 of the War produced a large number of debilitated animals, 

 and as soon as the Military situation permitted, approximately 

 -3000 horses were turned out to grass towards the end of Sept- 

 ember at Gournay-en-Bray between Dieppe and Paris in the 

 rich pasture lands there, the allotment being three horses to the 

 hectare (2|- acres). In a fortnight they were different creatures. 

 Convalescent Horse Depots were thus conceived, and Gournay 

 became from that time until the end of the war our principal 

 Convalescent Horse Depot. It functioned chiefly for Hospitals 

 on Southern line of Communication and the Armies based 

 thereon. 1180 hectares (2915 acres) of land were leased 

 annually at the average price of 23 francs per hectare monthly, 

 and animals were run out from the beginning of May to the 

 middle or end of November. The Depot was organized for 

 4000 animals in summer and 1200 in winter. It consisted of a 

 Headquarters and several Centres, each being provided with 

 stabling to which horses could be brought up from the various 

 pastures for grooming, shoeing, etc., prior to discharge to 

 Kemount Depots. Three Veterinary Hospitals were in the 

 neighbourhood, to any of which the animals requiring hospital 



