546 
{tfommtnucation# anti (Tastrs. 
Ars veterinaria post medicinam secunda est.—V egetius. 
ON THE ARMY VETERINARY DEPARTMENT. 
By another Army Veterinarian . 
Carpe diem. 
I quite coincide in every thing that has been said by “ An 
Army Veterinarian,” as communicated in the last Number of 
your useful periodical. It must be owned there is, unfortunately, 
but too much truth in all these observations. 
We may have flattered ourselves, at the commencement of our 
career, that because ours was a young, it must therefore be 
a rising profession. One cannot, however, help seeing, that of 
late years, at least, it has been losing ground greatly in the 
estimation of the world: as well in the army as every where 
else; and in the army principally, I have no doubt, from the 
causes so ably pointed out in the excellent and well-written 
paper to which I allude. 
The commission, it has been agreed on all sides, has stamped 
the pursuit of veterinary science with a degree of respectability 
and importance; and its utility in the regiments of cavalry has 
long been acknowledged; nay, I may add with confidence, is 
still undisputed. Is it not, then, our own faults that we are not 
respected? I have heard experienced commanding officers say, 
that “ there is nothing, perhaps, more difficult to get than a 
good veterinary surgeon, and no officer of the regimental staff 
more essential.” Is it not, therefore, I repeat, entirely our own 
faults if we are not respected? Every one, in fact, has to 
establish a character after he joins a regiment, where integrity 
and uprightness of conduct will always be appreciated, or the 
contrary cannot fail to be known; and where his degree of pro¬ 
fessional abilities, as well as his other attainments, will be pretty 
accurately ascertained and judged of. 
How careful, then, and particular ought the College to be, in 
recommending none but fit and well qualified persons to fill 
these appointments, seeing that the respectability of the profes¬ 
sion depends so much upon them ? But what is the fact ? Can 
it be denied, that a number of improper subjects have, from time 
to time, found their way into these employments ? This is so 
notorious that I have heard it complained of by many of the re¬ 
spectable resident practitioners of our own cast; by men settled 
