950 VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



about the diameter of a stirrup-iron, may be employed for 

 this purpose. Eight or nine horses may be tied to it with 

 their heads in a circle, so that moving, though not im- 

 possible, is greatly restricted. 



Shoeing on service is done cold with machine-made shoes ; 

 if forges are carried at the beginning of a campaign, they 

 are sure to be left behind when transport through wear and 

 tear becomes less. One fore and hind shoe are carried on 

 the saddle with a complement of nails, and unless the wear 

 is very heavy this is found sufficient. 



If shoes run short they may be taken off the dead, and 

 even the sick may have to give up their shoes to the horse 

 at duty. 



There is great difficulty in the proper care of the feet in 

 the field. Often there is not time, sometimes no nails or 

 shoes, frequently no rasps, farriers or shoeing- smiths may 

 be sick, or even none left. 



We shall touch on the question of the farrier and shoeing- 

 smith presently, but here note that he does no more 

 work than he is compelled to. Shoes are left to drop off, 

 if the ground is easy going they are frequently not even 

 replaced, and this largely results from the impossibility 

 of shoeing being done often for days together, and the 

 state of exhaustion in which men are when called upon to 

 perform this class of work, at a time when they ought to 

 be resting. 



During Marches the place for the veterinary officer and 

 his staff is in rear of the force or unit to which he is 

 attached, and he should always notify where he is to be 

 found. If the sick fall out of the ranks they stand by 

 until the veterinary officer reaches them, and are brought 

 on by him in the rear after being dealt with. 



Dressings and remedies must be available, so that no 

 delay is incurred. No veterinary chest can be got at as it 

 is with the baggage, but a surgical haversack or wallet is 

 carried by the subordinate staff", while in addition the 

 officer carries his instruments. 



Hypodermic remedies are useful at such a time, and 



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