ON THE ARMY VETERINARY DEPARTMENT. 503 
a horse to the service is even more valuable than that of a man, 
because one is worth £40, the other worth only £10; and the 
profession of the one, to be properly acquired, requires nearly as 
much science and attention as that of the other. 
I have heard of such a being as a “ veterinary surgeon ge¬ 
neral;” but I never yet have set eyes upon his excellency. 
I know that the army list contains the name of “ Edward Cole¬ 
man,” as the “ principal veterinary surgeon;” but I have yet 
got to learn that “ principal” is synonimous in rank with “ ge¬ 
neral ;” or indeed is any rank at all. 
It is very much to be regretted tlikt we have no such a 
“ head”—a superior, who would take a paternal interest in our 
welfare, and to whom we could lay open our grievances with the 
hope of their being redressed. And no less useful might such an 
appointment be made to the service in general than to the de¬ 
partment itself: he would be the proper and fit person to as¬ 
certain,—• 
“ Whether the veterinary surgeon is intelligent and competent 
to the duties of his station. Whether the registry of veterinary 
practice is regularly (and properly ) kept. Whether the farriers 
are properly instructed and expert in their business. Whether 
the horses are shod on the most approved principle. Whether 
the stables are properly ventilated. Whether the means adopted 
for the prevention of infection (are proper and) have been success¬ 
ful.” All which important investigation, as things are at present 
ordered, comes under the cognizance of an inspecting general 
officer. 
In fact, no department has been left so much in the back¬ 
ground (important as it has long since been acknowledged to be) 
as the veterinary department of the army ; while every other has 
been greatly ameliorated, and has undergone vast and striking 
improvements, this has been left in a comparatively backward 
and neglected condition, and mainly for the want of “ a head,” 
or, at least, such a head as would take an interest in promoting 
it to the highest degree of utility and perfection. 
To what extent, and in what manner, the department is sus¬ 
ceptible of improvement, will appear in the course of the future 
communications of 
An Army Veterinarian. 
