DEFECTS OF U. S. ARMY VETERINARY SERVICE. 
543 
DEFECTS OF THE PRESENT U. S. ARMY VETERINARY SERVICE. 
By D. Lemay. 
The aggregate pecuniary value of army animals is nearly three 
million dollars ($3,000,000). 
Two-thirds of these animals (value $2,000,000) are not only 
utterly unprovided with veterinary attendance or supervision, but 
are left to the ignorant and often brutal treatment of soldiers and 
drivers, resulting in immense loss of public property. 
Large losses occur annually, and great waste of veterinary 
drugs, instruments, animals, etc., there being no veterinary spec¬ 
ialists in charge of the department, and the business of purchasing! 
feeding, shoeing and general management of horses being regulat¬ 
ed by “Boards” composed of officers lacking the necessary technical 
knowledge or education to fit them for the position. 
United States Army officers, unlike their European confreres, 
receive not the slightest instruction in veterinary matters, and yet 
they are frequently in charge of large numbers of public animals, 
being obliged to make rules for their sanitary well-being and even 
regarding their medicines and veterinary attendance. 
Army horse-shoeing “according to tactics” is “foot-butchery, 
hoof-mutilation, and destruction.” It permanently cripples and 
renders useless hundreds of valuable horses and mules each year. 
The condemned and death lists amongst animals present, an¬ 
nually, a far higher percentage than that of any other civilized 
army, requiring a yearly appropriation of two hundred thousand 
dollars ($200,000). 
Animals, fit for military purposes, are becoming scarcer, of 
greater pecuniary value, and more difficult to procure from year 
to year. 
Large numbers of animals, anatomically unsound, physically 
unfit from bad conformation, etc., are annually purchased, from 
want of professional veterinary examination previous to being 
bought. 
The present position of Army Veterinarians, their low rela¬ 
tive rank, poor pay, utter want of prospects, promotion, or pension 
for long services, injuries or wounds, to which their professional 
