104 ANIMALS USED IN WAR. 



necessitated residence in Eemount Depots in France before 

 being drafted to units in the Field, endeavour being made to 

 hold them up to three weeks. Their temperatures were 

 carefully taken before entrainment— an absolutely necessary 

 proceeding. 



In the early days of the War, the mortality amongst our 

 beautiful Shires from respiratory disease was very heavy. 

 Circumstances of rapid collection, change of surroundings, 

 change of diet, and exposure all militated against them, and 

 they became prey to Pneumonia of the Influenzal type. Once 

 over initial sickness, and " acclimatised," they rendered a 

 good account of themselves where suitably placed. It has to 

 be remembered that the serious forms of respiratory sickness 

 in horses are referable to infection, and there is no doubt that 

 the lethargic heavy horse is not only a readier prey to disease 

 of this nature, but more easily succumbs than his lighter 

 confreres. 



The heavy feathering on the legs of the Shire horse — and in 

 like instance of the Clydesdale — proved a distinct disadvantage 

 for service at the Front in France. Nature, without question, 

 intended this covering as a protection to the heels and lower 

 parts of the legs from wet and from injury, whether from 

 ploughing in the furrow or from treads, but however much 

 an advantage in the stiff clay lands of England, it was quite 

 incompatible with the liquid mud of Northern France, churned 

 up by countless animals and fouled at times to an intense degree 

 by dung and urine. It was not possible to adequately clean 

 such heavily coated legs — with the result that they were prone 

 to " grease," cracked heels, and other affections of the skin of 

 the legs. To remove the hair only produced or intensified a 

 Seborrhoea. Votaries of fashion in their attention to the pro- 

 duction of "feather," fine or otherwise, never dreamt of liquid 

 filthy mud, sometimes knee and hock deep. 



However, at Base Ports, for Dock duty, and service on Lines 

 of Communication generally, or under circumstances more or 

 less approximating peace conditions, that is to say, for slow 

 work on the top of the ground, with opportunity for getting a 

 sufficiency of bulk in ration and plenty of time to eat it, and 



