64 WASTAGE OF ANIMALS IN WAR. 



To chronicle in detail the wastage under this heading which 

 has existed in our numerous campaigns, and the causes which 

 have led up to it, in itself would fill a book. There is admittedly 

 a large proportion of Debility in active warfare which nothing 

 can prevent. Animals as well as ourselves have their nervous 

 systems, and there are delicately constituted animals which no 

 horse-master can keep in condition, and which from necessity 

 find their way into the ranks of the best horsed army in the 

 world. Moreover, there are times when the military situation 

 absolutely prohibits the bestowal of that due amount of attention 

 in watering, feeding, and general care, which is so essential to 

 the well being of the animal. 



Let us now see what happened in the greatest of all wars, at 

 least in the Western Theatre in France, where long forced 

 marches were of rare occurrence, but where battle in all its fury, 

 exposure, terrific toil, and at times reduced ration existed. 



The Somme Offensive of 1916 left us by the December of that 

 year with 16,074 Debility (poor condition) animals under treat- 

 ment in Veterinary Hospitals and Convalescent Horse Depots. 

 [Note. Our policy, as previously explained, was early evacua- 

 tion as far as the situation admitted, and Convalescent Horse 

 Depots are essentially for the recuperation of animals in 

 impoverished condition.] Of this number 3,386 were riding 

 horses, 9,211 were light draught horses, 2,825 were heavy 

 draught horses, 248 were cobs and 404 were mules. The. 

 strength of the Force was then 854,217 horses and 62,914 

 mules, the percentage Debility (poor condition) therefore being 

 4"54 per cent, for horses and "64 for mules. The figures 

 illustrate finely the wonderful resistant power of the mule, and 

 he was equally good at recuperation. At the same time it is. 

 evident that when the working ration is reduced, the small 

 animal will continue effective when the larger animal fails. 

 The light draught mule 14'3 to 15'2 received the same ration as- 

 a light draught horse. The cob was conspicuous by his absence 

 from Veterinary Institutions at all times. 



In 1917, during the first fortnight of February operations 

 were at a standstill, and though the weather was cold the 

 wastage from Debility was low, only 1,678 cases for the two- 



