THE TREATMENT OF THE U. S. ARMY HORSE IN THE LATE WAR. 595 
provided they are properly graded in rank and can command 
and instruct the farriers and shoeing-smiths of the troops and 
batteries. Figuring their subordinate personnel as approxi¬ 
mately consisting of 400 farriers and smiths, the personnel of 
the veterinary department would come up to about 450 officers 
and men. 
The administration and direction of such a force, with 
its hospitals and stores of supplies, etc., should certainly 
be under the guidance of an officer ranking as major. It has 
been suggested by some higher army officers, who are interested 
in this scheme, that the major commanding this corps should 
be selected at the start, from the cavalry regiments or the 
Quartermaster’s Department, and that his office be attached to the 
Quartermaster General’s and he be made a chief of bureau. The 
writer thinks it rather odd that a professional veterinary corps 
should be directed by a professional soldier ; but inasmuch as 
the duties of this officer would be purely administrative, and in 
order to smooth things over for a start of such a bureau or 
division, he is inclined to yield to the wishes of those who are 
favorably impressed by such bureau but who retain a certain 
amount of excusable distrust. But there should be no yielding 
on the point that to the professional veterinary officers the way 
of promotion should be conceded, and that they should be al¬ 
lowed the professional direction and advice of their own supe¬ 
rior officers. Only in this way an efficient force could be 
maintained. It would be illusory to give to a limited 
number of veterinarians the rank of mere second lieutenant, 
as recommended by a bill before Congress for several years. 
Little good, if any, could come from such a measure, as it is 
easy to foretell that it would entail no end of conflict of au¬ 
thority and responsibility under the existing organization of 
the army. Thus constituted the Veterinary Department would 
consist of : 
One major, in charge (Officer of cavalry or of the Quartermaster’s 
Departmnt.) 
Five captains, mounted : 
One attached to the Bureau at Washington. 
