REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. 
661 
either side. The first is the cheapest mode of construction, 
but is liable to casualties, as stated in Question No. 7, (as 
well as badly-constructed barracks for soldiers ;*) the preven- 
tion in both cases is the better mode of building; but it is 
attended with great outlay, and political considerations might 
render cantonments in other parts of the country much more 
desirable. 
The committee of Finance (the members of which were 
very able staff officers belonging to each of the Presidencies), 
seeing that both regular and irregular cavalry in some parts 
of India did not use stables, particularly the officer from 
Madras, who had been used to the exposure system, thought 
of addressing these questions to cavalry officers commanding 
regiments, and to veterinary surgeons. I can only give my 
own replies ; but all the officers with whom I conversed on 
this subject were for stables. Officers at head-quarters in 
the enjoyment of curry, rice, and claret, with a good house 
over their heads, might say — 
“ Fear no more the heat of the sun, 
Nor the tempest's rages, 
Thou, thy daily task hath done, 
And taken thy wages." 
Also forget, perhaps, they had ever been subaltern officers in 
a tent, sitting under the table, to prevent the effects of the 
sun on the contents of their craniums, the thermometer being 
from 120° to 140°, or wrapped in cotton quilted dressing 
gown ; their servants shivering with cold in the verandah of 
it, perhaps sick; looking out upon their only pony, braving 
the pelting of the pitiless storm, up to his knees in water, 
more like a half-drowned cat than one of the equine genus ; 
their cook fireless, without chance of getting the tough grey 
partridge grilled, that master had shot for his dinner: “ good 
entertainment for man and horse” not being visible there. 
It is presumed the evidence was in favour of stables in the 
north-western part of India, whatever it might have been on 
the Peninsula. I regret I cannot inform you what has hap- 
pened since 1835, but when I read that Mr. Hurford has 
castrated 285 horses, even in 1 2 years, a change of opinion of 
this stable question may also have happened; for in my time 
officers on our side of India were as averse to castration as they 
were to the exposure system. Some other veterinary sur- 
geon may be able to inform you upon these points, and 
there are now many who have had equal experience in India 
with myself. 
* A serious casualty happened to a regiment of Her Majesty some time ago at 
Loodiana. 
