12(5 THE FRENCH ARMY VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
affecting the regulations necessary to the maintenance of disci- 
pline, or giving rise to assimilations that might be productive of 
contentions prejudicial to the service. 
Being now thoroughly convinced of the necessity of attaching 
pupils to the cavalry service who have been educated at the royal 
schools, I feel it my duty to state to your majesty the actual posi- 
tion of army veterinary surgeons under the existing ordinances, 
and to propose some alterations which appear to me calculated to 
insure to such of their body as are worthy of them those rewards 
which the state never refuses to bestow on the man who has dedi- 
cated himself to its service, whatever may have been his office. 
In the present state of things army veterinary surgeons are ap- 
pointed by ministerial commissions which may at any time be 
withdrawn from them. They are divided into two classes, the 
first of which ranks below the sub-adjutants, and the second hold 
a position inferior to that of the farrier-major. Their pay varies 
in the first class from 1200 to 1400* francs, and in the second 
from 800 to 1000 francst. There are no regulations regarding 
their right to promotion. A severe and long course of study is 
required of them, — a constant sacrifice of their time and talents, — 
a zeal for the service, — pure loyalty, — and a sense of probity 
strong enough to withstand the temptations to which they are in- 
cessantly exposed. For all this the present offers them no mo- 
ral satisfaction, the future no hope : a veterinary surgeon in the 
army, however talented, however worthy, must, from the begin- 
ning to the end of his career, rank among the sub-officers. 
If I inquire into the position in the army occupied in other 
countries by the men to whom is entrusted the hygiene and treat- 
ment of cavalry horses, I shall find additional reasons for earnestly 
recommending some change in the classification of French army 
veterinary surgeons. 
In England, on entering a regiment, the veterinary surgeon 
ranks as a cornet or sub-lieutenant. After ten years’ service he 
ranks as lieutenant, and a service of twenty years entitles him to 
the rank of captain. In Holland, he ranks as sub-lieutenant. In 
Belgium, the chief veterinary surgeon ranks as lieutenant, and 
the second as sub-lieutenant. Ten years’ service entitles them to 
promotion. In Prussia, they who have the general surveillance 
of the health of the regiment and the direction of the infirmaries, 
and who are, in fact, the veterinary surgeons, rank higher than 
ours do in France. In Bavaria, some rank as cadets, others as 
sub-lieutenants, others as lieutenants; and a veterinary surgeon in 
chief, acting under the minister of war, ranks as lieutenant-colonel. 
But I will proceed no further with this list, to which I might add 
* £50 to £58. t £35 to £48. 
