598 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
reflected upon the horse world in its widest sphere of extension. 
Then might military veterinary surgeons become — what now 
they are not— valuable contributors to our stock of medical 
and veterinary science, and the spare hours and thoughts 
such officers have on their hands be turned probably to better 
account than they are at present. An important function of 
the office of principal veterinary surgeon of the army is to 
stand at the gate of entree , through which candidates are 
admitted into the service as regimental or depot veterinary 
surgeons; and a very responsible duty this is, considering 
that the well-being of the hygienic and medical charge of the 
horses of the cavalry depends upon the efficiency of the 
persons admitted. When it comes to be considered that the 
ventilation and draining of the stables, the feeding and 
exercise of the horses, their shoeing, &c., are all under the 
recommendation or direction of the regimental veterinary 
surgeon, added to his medical duties, some notion may be 
formed of the qualifications to be looked for to constitute a 
fit and proper person for the efficient fulfilment of the office : 
the medical knowledge demanded of the candidate being of a 
nature such as is more especially called for in the service in 
which he is about to enter. In the Indian service, this, of 
course, would, in many respects, require to be of a total 
different character from what is requisite in our own; though, 
by the way, it may be observed that, in the present state of 
our veterinary literature, we hardly know where a candidate 
would go in search of the desired information, seeing that we 
do not possess any work or “ manual of the diseases to which 
horses in Hindostan, native or imported, are especially sub- 
ject.” 
The veterinary service of the East India Company, it is 
manifest to every one in Hindostan acquainted with veterinary 
concerns, suffers inconvenience and disadvantage from this 
want of a head . Any representation or complaint a veterinary 
officer has to make, or communication he may desire to have 
with the government, must now go through a superintendant 
surgeon and the Medical Board ; who, possessing neither 
savoir-faire nor interest, or but very little, in veterinary 
matters, are manifestly incompetent to form such judgment 
upon them as to be likely to settle them to satisfaction. A 
young man embarks for India direct from one of the Veterinary 
Colleges, who, perhaps, has never had a case of a sick or lame 
horse confided to him, to treat on his own judgment and 
responsibility, in his life. On his arrival in India, he does 
duty for three months under some senior veterinary officer, 
and then can call for examination ; and, should he pass, at 
once comes into charge of a regiment. Now, what practice or 
