GENERAL. 163 



It will also be realised that the longer the war the greater 

 the wear and tear, and the greater the number of unserviceable 

 animals for casting and disposal. 



All animals wasted by war must be accounted for, not only 

 in respect to numbers, but as to money realised in their 

 disposal, and although this to the uninitiated may sound an 

 impossible or hopeless undertaking, with proper and efficient 

 organisation it becomes a comparatively simple routine process. 

 This, at all events, was so in the British Expeditionary Force, 

 France ; and as disposal in that Force reached a magnitude 

 which probably will never again be experienced, and as 

 exceptional facilities existed, the procedure there followed may 

 be taken as an example not only of the manner in which 

 disposal is effected, but as to the profits, and the economy 

 which can be made applicable to it. 



In describing the process I shall endeavour, as faithfully as 

 I can, to depict the history of animals after their being con- 

 sidered " unfit for further military service," which is the official 

 phrase, and will group my remarks under the several headings, 



Casting. 



Disposal : (i) For work in civil pursuits, e.g.' Agriculture. 



(ii) For food, (iii) For By-products. 

 Accounting and Amounts Bealisbd. 

 Disposal on Demobilization. 



I only ask that readers will not mark down Veterinary Service 

 and myself as butchers, instead of 'a community of experts 

 whose mission it is to cure and not to kill. I can safely say 

 that the act of destruction is distasteful to the Veterinary Officer, 

 but some one of his Corps must do the deed, and the responsi- 

 bility for the execution of it in a proper and humane manner 

 devolves on the Veterinary Officer. 



