VETERINARY SURGEONS IN THE FRENCH ARMY. 455 
Nor is it only the intestines, however, which exhibit lively im- 
pressions from the action of cold water. The peritoneum, con- 
stituting their exterior envelope, and serving them at the same 
lime as means of attachment and support, and facilitating their 
rapid movements, itself experiences, directly or sympathetically, 
modifications of texture and function which, in our opinion, 
offers a satisfactory explanation of the strangulations and inex- 
tricable knots, which the intestines on occasions form in conjunc- 
tion with the peritoneum, which serves the purpose of ligature. 
Recueil de Med. Vet. Feb. 1851 . 
VETERINARY SURGEONS IN THE FRENCH ARMY. 
M. RENAULT has made the communication which follows to 
the National and Central Society of Veterinary Medicine : a 
fresh board having been appointed for the consideration of the 
condition of veterinary surgeons of regiments of the French 
army, consisting of Lieut. -Generals Oudinot de Reggio, Presi- 
dent ; De Lamoriciere, and Bedeau, with Ayme and Bocher, 
members; a new project has been framed, proposing that there 
should be three classes of veterinary surgeons : — 1, Principal Ve- 
terinary Surgeons; 2, First Veterinary Surgeons (velerinaires 
en premier ); 3, Second Veterinary Surgeons ( veterinaires en 
second). And, in order to extend the scale of gradation, there 
will be first veterinary surgeons of the first and second classes ; 
and in like manner two classes of second veterinary sur- 
geons : so that the lowest rank will be a second veterinary 
surgeon ( veterinaire en second) of the second class ; and this 
will be the grade they will commence at on entering the service, 
open to progressive advance until the rank of principal ve- 
terinary surgeon be attained. 
But, whatever be the grade attained bv the veterinary sur- 
geon, it will give no assimilation to military rank. For, in 
point of fact, in military language, there exists a sensible dif- 
ference between assimilation to grade and rank equivalent to 
the grade. Assimilation to grade confers upon him who enjoys 
it the same prerogatives, the same power, the same command as 
the commanding officer has over those under him, correspondent 
to his rank. If such grade subjects him to be punished by 
those superior in rank, it arms him with the power of punishing 
him of inferior rank. It renders subordinate, in every case, lo 
him enjoying this assimilation, everybody, of military rank, 
of inferior grade. Now, it is this effect of assimilation which 
