DISEASES OF ANIMALS IN INDIA. 
11 
The wealthy natives not only display it by fattening them- 
selves, but their animals. Horses of native princes, in par- 
ticular, are generally in the condition of cattle at an English 
prize cattle show ; their faeces are always in a loose slimy state, 
sometimes fetid from the high feeding upon boiled sheeps’ 
heads, grain, sugar, and masaulahs, including narcotics : these 
horses are seldom worked, being kept only for parade; yet some 
Europeans are so foolish as to expect, and even try to make 
their horses look and be in the same condition, and will laugh 
at a veterinarian who might endeavour to put them in the 
right way. 
The poorer native will travel fed upon parched grain and 
water, and work horses, camels, and oxen, sometimes without 
extra food from necessity, though in this low condition the 
work is slow and limited ; this, however is contrary to their 
own notions of what is right. 
I mention these things to the young veterinarian going to 
India ; for he must bear in mind, however high his medical 
attainments and his practical knowledge of horses and stable 
management in England, like others, he will be considered a 
downright griffin for the first year, and continue one for three 
years ; in other words, that period of time being supposed to 
make him acquainted with the country and natives. How long 
the new comer may remain so, depends upon his observations ; 
but it is in this an old Indian commanding officer may consider 
a young man “ inefficient” even after five years, during which 
period his professional merits and his correct and gentleman- 
like conduct has been periodically reported to head quarters. 
Principal veterinary surgeon was in the draft of the veterinary 
department given by me to the late principal veterinary 
surgeon, Coleman, in 1825. Why the nomination did not 
happen I am unable to explain. The first three appointed to 
Bengal were sent to the stud depots, being most required 
there ; yet one depot, for reasons unknown, was many years 
without one, and may be so now, the stud being under a 
board of superintendence, and not the commander-in-chief, 
except as a member of the government. 
Veterinary surgeons, like other officers, rank according to 
the dates of their commissions, therefore the senior might at 
one time belong to Her Majesty’s, at another time to the 
Hon. East India Company’s service; the former being under 
Her Majesty’s principal veterinary surgeon. As in the direc- 
tions for shoeing cavalry horses, lately issued, the latter 
might never have the circular communicated to them, an 
anomalism practically advantageous, the shoe not being 
adapted for cold shoeing by the natives ; why, I will state 
