ARMY FARRIERS AND SHOEING SMITHS. 827 
more than a casual look at the hospital, which is generally on 
a Sunday morning, before or after church parade, is as much 
as he is able to do. He, with the farrier and others, must 
shoe the troophorses and chargers, but as the farrier has to 
divide his attention between the pharmacy, infirmary, stables, 
and forge, it will be seen that so much more of the forge 
duties are likely to devolve on the shoeing smith. Farriers, 
too, are generally allowed to shoe the horses of private indi- 
viduals, or outsiders, which, as a perquisite, we do not object 
to, but, having seen that the practice throws extra work on 
all concerned, and that it has been carried on to the exclu- 
sion of other duties of a similar nature, we are sure that it 
detracts attention from duties of a veterinary nature. We 
have often heard, “ Can I go, sir ? there's an officer's charger 
waiting to be shod." It may have been an officer's, but not 
one of the regiment. In the middle of an operation it is 
not uncommon to hear, a We shall get no beer this morning," 
and unless permission is given for this indulgence, much 
uneasiness fis expressed. There are few who do not prefer 
their allowance of beer to seeing an operation. Were it not 
that every battery and regiment has its own salootrie, or 
native attendant, in the infirmary, the veterinary surgeon 
would be obliged to make up his own prescriptions and ad- 
minister them. As it is we often do this. In many cases the 
salootrie is far more intelligent, observant, even trustworthy, 
and useful than the farrier, and it has often been advisable to 
give instructions direct to the former, so as to lessen the 
probability of any misrepresentation by the latter; Arrange- 
ments that have been made for the regular attendance of 
acting shoeing smiths, &c., at the horse infirmary, have 
quickly fallen through, and instructions offered on every 
available occasion have been neglected or forgotten alto- 
gether. 
In this direction few show zeal, because, having little or no 
responsibility, they do not see the necessity for thinking and 
care not to retain what is taught. Thus they go on, and not 
only expect promotion, but get it. 
Men who were shoeing smiths, or smiths of any description 
in civil life, should, if they can read and write, have better 
opportunities than those of army origin to acquire knowledge 
that would make them useful to the veterinary surgeon and 
valuable to Government in that officer's absence, but they 
are not selected with a view to their ever becoming apothe- 
caries and attendants on sick horses. Our experience proves 
that selection and promotion follow similar rules at home as 
in India. A farrier- sergeant, coming direct from England, 
