580 
THE RANK AND PAY OF CAVALRY VETERINARY 
SURGEONS. 
The French veterinary cavalry surgeon, in whatever walk 
of life he may have previously moved, whatever may be his 
attainments or his length of service, can rank only as a warrant 
officer. He may be, he is, admitted to the highest scientific in¬ 
stitutions of his country; there, at least, his claims are frankly 
acknowledged ; but in his own regiment there is between him and 
his brother officers a chasm which he can never pass. This is 
an unnatural and a disgraceful state of things. 
The French veterinarian has not rested quietly under this gall¬ 
ing state of inferiority; but the French cavalry regiments are, 
almost without an exception, officered by the noblesse, and a deaf 
ear has been turned to the claims-of common feeling and justice. 
M. Hamont, the founder of the Egyptian school, rested not 
until he had obtained for the certificated pupils of Abou Zabel 
the rank of commissioned officers as soon as they entered the 
cavalry service; but the pupils of Alfort, Lyons, and Toulouse, 
continue to be regarded as subalterns. A state of things so 
anomalous and so disgraceful cannot much longer remain. The 
professors of the French schools have made, or are about to make, 
another decided struggle for the honour and the rights of their 
profession. We wish them the success which they deserve. 
They were naturally anxious to be informed of the rank and 
pay of the veterinary surgeon in the British service. Our valued 
friend, Mr. W^. Percivall, than whom no one could be more com¬ 
petent or more zealous in such a cause, has sent them the desired 
information. As every practitioner may not be in full pos¬ 
session of the real position of the veterinary surgeon in our 
cavalry regiments, and a copy of Mr. Percivall’s reply has fallen 
into our hands, we gladly transcribe it. He is answering certain 
questions. The veterinary surgeon on his entrance into a cavalry 
regiment has the rank of cornet or sub-lieutenant. At the end 
of ten years he has the rank of lieutenant; and of captain at 
the expiration of twenty years. This is the highest rank at 
which he can arrive. His pay is eight shillings a day during 
the first three years, and ten shilling a day during the next seven 
years ; after that twelve shillings a day until he has served tw'enty 
years, and then fifteen shillings a day as long as he shall remain 
in the service. At the expiration of twenty-five years’ service he 
has a right to the retired pay of eight shillings a day, and of 
twelve shillings a day after thirty years’ service. 
His widow will have a claim to an annuity in proportion to the 
rate of pay. 
