EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
695 
(abundant, we hope), means and appliances, suitable and 
remedial, as far as human aid can be, for our poor sick and 
suffering men ; but what accounts have we of any provision, 
in the shape of medical aid and tendance, for the wounded 
and suffering horse. From having partaken, in some degree, 
of the two former campaigns, viz., of Peninsula and Waterloo, 
we w r ell know how difficult, and too often impossible, a mat- 
ter it is to provide, anywise adequately and effectually, for 
the wounded and sick, or even for the lame horse. The 
regiment he belongs to is on the march, or even on the field ; 
the division of the army of which the regiment forms a part 
is on the move to another region of the country ; the poor 
animal is doomed either to follow in the rear, probably pain- 
fully hopping, or, lingeringly being dragged along, in the 
faint hope of his becoming better or proving sufficiently 
amended to reach any proximate depot of sick there may 
happen to be formed. On a campaign, in times of marching 
or actual fighting, little scope is afforded for the exercise of 
the veterinarian^ skill, or even for his ability to obtain such 
accommodation for the sick and w r ounded horses as w T ould 
enable him to administer to their immediate requirements ; 
on the contrary, it too often happens that the occasion is 
such as either to prove compulsory on himself and his patients 
to move onward, in the wake of the marching body, or else on 
the spot, as a point of absolute necessity requiring decision, 
consigns the latter to a lamentable but unavoidable end. 
That any special arrangement or provision has been made 
for horses which may be wounded, or may fall sick among 
the troops employed in the Crimea, we have no inti- 
mation, further than that certain Regimental Veterinary 
Surgeons were at first selected and nominated Army Ve- 
terinary Surgeons, to be detached from their regimental duties 
to take upon themselves the not very desirable task of 
purveyors of horses, in order to keep filled such defalcations as 
from various causes befal the ranks ; and, at the same time, 
to provide such bat horses as may be required, or otherwise, 
to admit of being posted at divers stations, to take charge of 
such cavalry depots as might thereat be formed, for the 
