MILITAEY HYGIENE 961 



the reasons which influence this have been discussed 

 earlier in this chapter. Strange to say this has been the 

 history of our army for a hundred years, and probably 

 longer.* Burgoyne tells us that in the Peninsula the differ- 

 ence in care bestowed on their horses by the British and 

 German Dragoons was most noticeable ; both horses received 

 the same forage, were with the same force, while the differ- 

 ence in condition and fitness for work, was due to the greater 

 care bestowed by the Germans, who could always place 100 

 horses in the ranks to our 10. Mercer also, strange to say, 

 drew a contrast between the German and British Dragoon, 

 and says the difference in the affection for and care of the 

 horse is what distinguishes the two : ' while the former 

 would sell anything to feed his horse, the latter would sell 

 his horse itself for spirits or the means of obtaining them. 

 The one never thinks of himself until his horse is provided 

 for, the other looks upon the animal as a curse, and a 

 source of perpetual drudgery to himself.' Wellington 

 throughout his Peninsular despatches deplores the loss of 

 horses. In one despatch he says, ' It is inconceivable how 

 fast both the horses of the cavalry and artillery fell away. 

 When horses as well as men are new to war, I believe the 

 former are generally the sacrifice of their mutual inexperience.' 

 The italics are ours. The sentence shows what was in the 

 Commander-in-Chief's mind. 



Eeturning to the two vitally important points to be borne 

 in mind by all officers of cavalry, especially junior officers, 

 it is but fair to them to state that the assumption is that 

 their horses are in condition for work, or if not, that they 

 understand how to get them in condition and have the time 

 to do it. 



General Hartmann's Cavalry Division in the War of 1866 

 marched 16 miles to the Battle of Koeniggraetz, was 

 engaged for ten hours with the enemy, and in pursuing the 

 retreating Austrians marched 97 miles in three days ; it 

 cost the Division 25 per cent, of its horses, but the animals 



* See ' Military Opinions,' Field- Marshal Sir J. Burgoyne ; ' Diary 

 of the Waterloo Campaign,' Major Mercer, K.A. 



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