42 WASTAGE OF ANIMALS IN WAR. 



Chapter II. 

 PEEVENTION OP WASTAGE AND INEFFICIENCY. 



Causa sublata tollitur effectus (Eemove the cause and the 

 effects will cease) is one of the first principles of Medical and 

 Veterinary Science. It goes in double harness with the old 

 hackneyed expression " Prevention is better than cure." Both 

 axioms are applicable to other spheres and circumstances than 

 Medical or Veterinary Science. It is very easy to theorize on 

 " preventable wastage," but it is a difficult proposition in war 

 to draw the line between what is preventable and what is non- 

 preventable wastage. Moreover, complaints or criticisms are 

 quite valueless without proper remedies can be suggested. 



With these points in view, it perhaps would appear more 

 correct to give an account of the causes of wastage before deal- 

 ing with their prevention : lest I should appear to be putting 

 the cart before the horse. But such causes, particularly in 

 respect to diseases, are so varied and numerous, and their recital 

 so much attended with statistical figures, that I have deemed it 

 better to leave them to a later stage of the work. Besides, 

 the policy of prevention, whenever it can be carried into effect, 

 is or should be a first consideration. 



For the purpose of discussing prevention, it will be con- 

 venient to group remarks under the sub -headings here 

 mentioned : — 



Study of Resources and Bemounting. 



A properly organised Army Veterinary Service. 



Knowledge of Animal Management. 



Nature of work to be performed. 



Evacuations. 



Study of Resources and Remounting. 



The following round figures will convey a general idea of 

 the colossal work put on our Eemount Service during the late 

 war, and the magnitude of the machinery that was necessary 

 for remounting operations. Being so far away from records, 

 and having only a limited number of statistical figures by me, I 



