MILITAEY HYGIENE 951 



strychnine may help a horse to reach the next camp that 

 might otherwise be left behind from exhaustion. 



Very little can be done on the march in the way of 

 treatment, and especially at night unless there is a moon, 

 for lights are not available, and under certain conditions are 

 prohibited. 



The commanding ofi&cer who is anxious to husband the 

 strength of his horses during marches, will dismount his 

 men and make them lead their horses for a definite period 

 every hour. There is nothing the men hate more ; it is 

 a proceeding which cannot be done in the vicinity of the 

 enemy, but contact with the enemy is the exception and 

 not the rule in war. When marching on foot occurs, the 

 men must open out for ventilation and safety, especially if 

 marching at night and on dusty or broken tracks. At 

 night it is the only way to keep men awake and prevent 

 them from tiring their horses by rolling about in the 

 saddle. 



At every halt, and especially the daybreak halt after a 

 night march, horses should be looked round ; if possible 

 the saddle removed for half an hour, and shoes inspected. 

 The removal of the saddle is an invaluable practice, and 

 should be done every two hours when marching, in order 

 to allow the back to dry and restore its circulation. 



Every advantage should be taken of watering horses on 

 a march, for one never knows in a strange country how 

 long it will be before water is again met with. It is more 

 difficult with artillery and transport than cavalry, for the 

 animals have to be unhooked. 



The transport of a force marches in the rear of it. 

 With an army it may be so large as to extend for miles, 

 even with a small force it is remarkable the amount of 

 ground it covers. The officer in charge of transport and 

 the veterinary officer should between them exercise the 

 most constant supervision, riding both with and against 

 the stream of waggons and animals, pointing out irregu- 

 larities, rectifying misfits of harness or badly arranged 

 loads, before they do any further damage. 



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