68 WASTAGE OF ANIMALS IN WAR. 



The introduction of gas warfare was met by the provision of 

 horse respirators, but such provision was more costly than the 

 loss sustained. It. is more important for the men to adjust 

 their own respirators than those of the horses, and by the time 

 the latter is effected damage [may be done to the animals. 

 Animals are more resistant to gas than men, but in any case 

 the best policy is to clear out of the gas area. Eespirators are 

 of course of no value against the mustard gas. Avoidance of 

 pools of water (blistering of lips from drinking) and of 

 traversing land on which it was noticed (blistering of heels 

 and legs) were precautions taken. 



Accidental Injuries. 



Under this heading are included wounds other than gunshot. 

 Kicks, contusions, fractures, sprains, rope-galls, saddle-galls, 

 harness-galls, and lameness from various causes. Treated as 

 a class they are very largely preventable, and their limitation 

 is in direct relation to the knowledge and attention displayed 

 by Unit Commanders and others to whom animals are 

 entrusted. It is very satisfactory to record that during no 

 period of the war in France did this class of wastage present 

 any serious proportion — with the exception perhaps of the 

 inefficiency resulting from " picked up nail " to which I will 

 specifically allude — and I think the small amount of preventable 

 injury there met with reflects very creditably on the general 

 animal management of the Army. Certainly the simple 

 knowledge which has been gained in our various schools and 

 classes has borne good truit. 



Sore back. In days gone by, the inefficiency on campaign 

 from sore backs, both in Cavalry and in Transport, was 

 dreadful. With the exception of contagious disease, it formed 

 the chief item of wastage and inefficiency. The history of the 

 majority of frontier expeditions in India reeks of sore back 

 in Transport. In the Egyptian Campaign of 1882, out of a 

 total of 1982 horses, though there was comparatively little 

 marching, there were 517 cases of sore back of which 21 had 

 to be destroyed. In two months one British Cavalry Eegiment 

 had 76 sore backs, and in another there were 89 in one month. 

 Eeports of sore back in camels during the Nile Expedition of 



