242 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
of his art, the learned Joseph Green, that c< it was the veteri- 
nary surgeons who, in point of fact, had obtained the battle of 
Waterloo;” which astounding announcement was afterwards 
interpreted by the putting of the question, “ how the horses 
of the cavalry would have been able to have carried their 
riders without shoes ?” Ludicrous as this at first sight may 
appear, there is still some genuine truth in it. Every cavalry 
officer knows, who knows anything at all about the matter, 
that one of the first requisites of his regiment, is an effective 
shoeing establishment. One of the regulations of the army, in 
respect to this, is, that “ every horse is to be shod (or 
removed) once a month” And than such a general rule, none 
better could be devised ; since, supposing, in consequence of 
little or no wear the horse’s shoes be not worn out in the 
specified time, yet will his shoes require removing, or his feet 
paring, after an elapse of thirty or thirty-one days ; and this 
of itself prove sufficient to call the regulation into force. 
But can this, at all times and in all places, be done on foreigii 
service ? Is the forge-cart always near enough for that pur- 
pose to the horse, or the horse to it? Is there always a 
farrier present when wanted? Are there shoes at hand? 
These and other considerations must be taken into account, 
if the fine horses of our cavalry are to be maintained in that 
condition of efficiency in which they are about to quit their 
native country. 
in the Peninsular campaign, the horse-shoes sent out 
under the charge of the commissariat, were packed in small 
flat deal boxes, containing (we think) about one hundred 
pairs in each box ; and these were of the most ordinary 
make and construction, though of different sizes. In a 
country such as Spain and Portugal, where many roads were of 
th epave character, and where, in many parts, no roads at all 
exist, the foot of the cavalry horse required defence ; and the 
shoes sent out, though of coarse workmanship and indifferent 
material, so far answered the purpose; after being re- ham- 
mered, altered, &c., into some little better form, though still 
loudly complained of. 
In order that the shoes intended to be furnished for the 
