PART III. 



Army Veterinary Service 

 as an Instructional Agency. 



Chapter I.— GENEEAL. 



In the late War, when officers and men were rapidly got 

 together to serve their Country, the lack of knowledge of 

 animals displayed was remarkable. It was really not surprising 

 when one considered that the majority of men were drawn 

 from business and trade pursuits in which horses formed no 

 part. Take, for instance, a Division, the Infantry of which 

 consisted of seamen, and the Artillery composed of men drawn 

 for the most part from mines. One can hardly imagine a 

 more unfavourable combination of elements for the care and 

 management of animals, and one can picture the disadvantage 

 tmder which such a Formation laboured at the outset, and 

 the results which followed in the train of inexperience and 

 want of knowledge. Yet long before the end of the time 

 there were no proverbial flies on that Division in the general 

 management of its animals. 



It is only one example of many, and it goes to show that in 

 matters of animal management, instruction is just as necessary 

 as in other military duties if a high or satisfactory standard of 

 efficiency is to be maintained, and dead loss avoided. In the 

 section which I have written entitled " Wastage of Animals in 

 War " there is abundant evidence of wastage that could have 

 been avoided with more perfect knowledge of animals, their 

 temperament, their capacity for work and the general factors 

 which go towards the preservation of their health. 



