42 
DEFECTS OF THE ARMY VETERINARY SERVICE. 
whims, this regiment has been without the services of a vet¬ 
erinarian for some years, this negligence daily jeopardizing and 
endangering large amounts of public property. 
The Board of 1879 recommended as a measure of economy 
that a veterinarian be stationed in each large garrison. 
Veterinary education comprises a three years’ curriculum, an 
expenditure of about three thousand dollars, and more subjects 
are as minutely studied as in human medicine, viz : mineralogy, 
botany, physics, chemistry, analysis of food and water, physiology, 
histology, pathological anatomy, general pathology, (human, 
equine, ovine, bovine, canine and feline,) medicines, therapeutics, 
soundness of animals, dietetics, buying and selling, transportation, 
horse-shoeing, clinics, obstetrics, surgery, forensic medicine,J 
veterinary police and contagious diseases, meat inspection, animal 
conformation, operative practice, microscopy, sanitation, stabling, 
examination of forage, grain, water, etc., hygiene, skin diseases, 
ophthalmology, helminthology, jurisprudence, etc., etc. 
The army veterinarian is paid less than the telegraph operator, 
ordnance sergeant, wagon boss, mulepacker, post blacksmith and 
carpenter, Q. M. clerk, etc., etc.; he has only the rank, quarters, 
and social status of the enlisted man, consequently his professional 
suggestions and instructions are neither received nor executed 
with the respect and promptness they deserve. 
In all other branches of Government veterinary service, (the 
Bureau of Agriculture, and various State veterinary officials,) the 
veterinarian is recognized, treated, and respected as a professional 
representative, and a gentleman, with stipend from two thousand 
dollars to five thousand dollars per annum. 
The army veterinarian’s pay is not sufficient to supply more 
than the bare necessaries of life, as array living is high and ex¬ 
pensive. In travelling he is only allowed the same amount of 
baggage as an enlisted man, and consequently must dispose of 
his effects when leaving, and purchase others at the next station. 
His travel pay stops on his arrival at his destination, although 
he is frequently compelled to remain at hotels, etc., for long 
periods, through scarcity of quarters. 
The Quartermaster General in his annual report of 1884-5, 
states “ that veterinarians are practically without quarters. ” 
