832 ARMY FARRIERS AND SHOEING SMITHS. 
may not the Veterinary Department have its ‘"Veterinary 
Medical Subordinate Department 9 embodied in the men we 
term farriers, or, what would be a vast improvement, consti- 
tuted of men entirely distinct from those of the forge ? In 
Woolwich Horse Infirmary the necessity for a man who 
understands compounding is recognised. He compounds all 
the medicines presented by the numerous veterinary surgeons 
stationed there, but may have little or nothing to do with 
administering or applying medicines ; this used to be done 
by the farriers in the most uncouth manner possible. We 
would confine the duties of the farriers to the forge, to the 
shoeing of horses’ feet in health, and to the stables; they 
should, in our opinion, have nothing to do with disease, 
except to report its appearance, and nothing whatever to do 
with medicine or its administration. They or their duties, 
however, would not lapse from the supervision of the veteri- 
nary surgeon. 
All duties of a veterinary medical nature, inclusive of the 
ability to remove or apply a shoe , to pare and examine afoot 
and to dress it, would fall to the duties of the subordinate. 
(We cannot, nor would we wish to, escape from the duties of 
the forge ; they cannot be separated from the rest, and even 
if they could be effectually severed, they are too interesting 
to us and to most to give up.) But he would have nothing 
to do with the shoeing in general. He would have similar 
duties to perform as the medical subordinate, and would 
take rank accordingly, or otherwise as might be arranged. 
Every battery of artillery, and every squadron, or, at least, 
every wing of cavalry should possess a e V eterinary Medical 
Subordinate/ Why, may be asked, is our department un- 
worthy of the same advantage as that enjoyed by the medical 
department ? The question is a natural one, and worth con- 
sideration. Government is by no means indifferent to the 
well-being of its valuable horses, or to the necessity of main- 
taining them 'in a state of efficiency, but it may think twice 
over the necessary pecuniary increase there would be incurred 
in carrying out such an idea. We are sure, however, that 
the proper representation of these suggestions or their modi- 
fication would solicit the careful attention of Government, 
and be rewarded with some success. Our suggestions have 
been very sketchy and condensed, as we intended they should 
be in this communication, and to some we have referred we 
do not claim originality. 
Respecting the rank of farrier-major or his duties, we shall 
not take notice, as his services can, without any difficulty, be 
dispensed with. 
