EDITORIAL. 
611 
improved and that would scarcely be a detriment to his value or 
a prevention to his doing good work, satisfactory to his owner. 
Be this as it may, the operation of filing the two front molar 
teeth, in an oblique direction, to prevent a horse from grabbing 
the bit between them, and arrest his pulling, is an addition to 
our means of relaxing a bad habit, which is due to American 
veterinary ingenuity and observation, worthy of entering into 
general practice. 
The Army Birr.— There is no doubt that veterinarians are 
in earnest this year in their efforts to give assistance to the Com¬ 
mittee on Army Legislation of the United States Veterinary 
Medical Association. Most of the efforts which have come under 
our observation are most intelligent a.< d well-directed, but that 
of the New \ ork State Society is especially systematic and effec¬ 
tive. The energetic and earnest Secretary of that Society, Dr. 
Claude D. Morris, has sent to fifty prominent veterinarians resi¬ 
dent in the various congressional districts of the State, a copy of 
the bill and the report of Adjutant-General Geo. D. Ruggles, 
together with a thorough analysis of the merits of the Army 
bill, with the following letter of request to the veterinarians : 
New York State Veterinary Medical Society. 
Secretary’s Office, 
Pawling, N. Y.November 2, 1896. 
My Dear Doctor : 1 enclose you a copy of a bill which has been favorably reported 
by the Committee on Military Affairs in the Rower House of Congress. You will see that 
the purpose of the bill is to give rank to veterinary surgeons employed in the United States 
Army. It needs no argument to prove that this is a step in the right direction. The en¬ 
actment of this bill would establish the profession in the army in a position which it has a 
right to enjoy, thus making the services of the veterinarian in the army of far greater effi¬ 
ciency than is possible in his present condition. Under the enactment of this bill the 
veterinary surgeon would be a commissioned officer of cavalry, having rank and authority. 
The bill is not in the interest of a favored few. It’s in the interest of the profession at 
large, asking for position of rank and social standing in the United States Army. Will 
you see your Member of Congress, and, if possible, get him to commit himself, that he 
will support this bill at the coming session of the House of Representatives. Please re¬ 
port to this office the result of your efforts in this matter at as early day as possible. 
.' ■. w I beg to remain most sincerely yours, 
. . .. . ... . G. B:. Morris > Secretary. 
We have no doubt but that the method of the New York 
