THE VETERINARY SURGEON IN THE U. S. ARMY. 
263 
my profession I can without restraint place everything.in its 
true light before my brother members of the profession and 
ask their encouragement and advice on a subject of para¬ 
mount importance to every veterinarian in the United States. 
What is required is an organized veterinary corps in the 
army which shall receive the pay and rank of the members of 
the Medical Department of like grade; that it shall be con 
ducted on the same principles as the Medical Corps, and that 
the list of drugs now allowed by the War Department for 
the treatment of sick animals be extended; that a competent 
veterinarian of recognized ability be placed at the head of 
this corps—such men as Drs. Salmon, Huidekoper, Coates, 
Stalker, Gill, and several others that I could name, would fill 
the position with credit—and that provision be made for 
those gentlemen now in the army who, though non-graduates, 
still have filled the position of veterinary surgeon with abil¬ 
ity for years. In order that this or any part of it may be ac¬ 
complished, it is necessary that every veterinarian in the 
United States, whether in the army or out of it, lend his aid 
and support to the project. A properly framed bill must be 
introduced in Congress, which your influence with your seve¬ 
ral Congressmen and Senators will secure the adoption of. I 
have such a bill in my possession, which I will be glad to submit 
through the columns of the Review for your comment and 
criticism, if your views on the subject are favorable. It will 
certainly take considerable cash indirectly to carry the bill 
through, but a dollar or two contributed by each individual 
veterinarian in the United States would be more than suffi¬ 
cient for all purposes. I do not wish to handle this money 
myself. I would ask the editor of the Review to take 
charge of the funds, or better still, the Committee of the Uni¬ 
ted States Veterinary Medical Association on Army Legis¬ 
lation, and a strict account rendered of all moneys expended 
m the transaction. 1 am determined that this bill shall be in¬ 
troduced this winter, and that with or without your assist¬ 
ance. I shall make at least one effort to elevate the veterinary 
profession in this instance, even if the chances of success are 
against me. I respectfully invite your remarks and advice on 
