161 
THE VETERINARIAN, MARCH 1, 1869. 
Ne quid falsi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat.—C icero. 
THE POSITION AND PHOSPECTS OP AHMY VETERINARY 
SURGEONS. 
A SHORT time ago, we took the opportunity of com¬ 
menting upon the severe strain thrown on the veterinary 
medical staff attached to the Abyssinian Expedition, the 
encouraging manner in which the efforts of that staff had 
been recognised by the general in command, and the 
neglect of the authorities in England to give force to that 
distinguished officer’s recommendations, when honours were 
being lavishly awarded to other departments, which had 
done no more than their share in conducting the hazardous 
enterprise to a successful issue. We then referred to 
the general feeling of disappointment and regret which 
was expressed by the members of our profession in the army 
at the slight they had, as a body, suffered. Events made it 
apparent that no amount of exertion or skill in the dis¬ 
charge of their important functions in the field would be 
noticed by the Government, and that no recommendations 
from the seat of active warfare would have any effect in 
obtaining for them the smallest tittle of the recognition 
awarded to others. It was also noticed that, but for the 
clamour raised by the public press, not a single veterinary 
promotion would probably have taken place. When, at 
last, this external pressure induced a slight relaxation of 
the rule which had been hitherto acted on, one gentleman 
only obtained promotion, while the others who were as 
strongly recommended, and among them the head of the 
department, were left out in the cold to console them¬ 
selves by the reflection that honours had been plentifully 
awarded to their brother officers of the medical and other 
branches. 
