990 VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



two inch rope, and scores of pegs of suitable length, with 

 means for driving them in, a place may be made for the 

 reception of some hundreds of sick in a few hours. The 

 grouping of the cases must follow. The first thing is to 

 relieve regiments of their sick, and this cannot possibly be 

 done without the above. 



It must not be assumed that the sole equipment required 

 by a hospital is that just mentioned. Why these are 

 specially specified is that without them a hospital had far 

 better not start, while with them something can be done. 



The number of Stationary Hospitals on the line of com- 

 munications depends on the length of the latter and on the 

 number of lines. No rule can be laid down, convenience of 

 feeding, proximity of water-supply, and suitable facilities 

 for protection are the factors which govern this. There is 

 one rule, however, that must always be observed, and that is 

 to regularly work down the line all cases that are likely to 

 take some time to cure. The nearer a useless mouth is 

 brought to the base the easier and cheaper it is to feed it. 

 The hospital on the line which is the nearest to the army 

 should always be ready to take in the whole of the sick of 

 the Field Hospitals ; at very short notice an army may 

 move, and the Field Hospitals must at once get rid of 

 their cases, or they become hopelessly congested ; these 

 are received by the nearest Stationary Hospital on the 

 line. 



As we have previously stated it is impossible in the space 

 at our disposal to do more than give an outline of the 

 Hospital organization in War. The supply of medicine, 

 dressings, and surgical means is quite a distinct branch, 

 and requires its own personnel and organization. 



It is desirable to note that a Stationary Veterinary 



Hospital will always be placed on the line where a 



Eemount Depot exists, so as to receive its cases as well as 



those of the Field Army. Into the Eemount Depot are 



returned all horses as they recover ; the Eemount Depot^ 



conducted on the lines mentioned in the section dealing with 



their organization, being charged with the duty of getting 



these animals fit before they are again issued to regiments 

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