734 
ARMY VETERINARY LEGISLATION. 
with the rank of colonel, 42 second-class principal veterinary surgeons 
with the rank of lieutenant-colonel and major, 189 first veterinary sur¬ 
geons with the rank of captain, 270 second veterinary surgeons with 
the rank of first lieutenant, 91 assistant veterinary surgeons with the 
rank of sub-lieutenant. 
The German army has : 
I. 16 Corps veterinarians with uniform corresponding to major. 
II. * Brigade “ “ “ “ “captain. 
III. 116 Regimental “ “ “ “ “ istlieut. 
IV. 215 Veterinary surgeons “ “ “ “ 2d lieut. 
V. 106 Assistant veterinarians ranking as Sergeant Major. 
The veterinarians I-IV rank as higher military officials. 
In the Italian army there is an inspector-general of military veteri¬ 
nary medicine with the rank of colonel, 1 veterinarian with the rank of 
colonel, and 1 with rank of lieutenant, with inspector-general’s office at 
headquarters of the army ; 2 with rank of lieutenant-colonel and 10 
with that of major to the 12 army corps as inspectors of public animals; 
24 with rank of captain and 48 with rank of lieutenant to the 24 regi¬ 
ments of cavalry ; 12 with rank of captain and 24 with rank of lieuten¬ 
ant to the 12 regiments of artillery ; 12 with rank of captain and 36 
with rank of lieutenant to the battalions of the train ; 2 with rank of 
lieutenant to engineer corps ; 1 rank of captain to military school ; 1 
rank of captain, 2 rank of lieutenant, to cavalry school. 
In the Belgian army there is the chief of service. Chief veterina¬ 
rian (lieutenant-colonel); 12 chiefs of service ; 2 principal veterinarians 
(majors); 10 regimental veterinarians first-class (captains). There 
are twenty-two adjuncts to chiefs of service : Five regimental veteri¬ 
narians second-class (captains—“ en second ”); 9 veterinarians second- 
class (lieutenants); 8 veterinarians third-class (sub-lieutenants). 
If veterinary service is so important in foreign armies it should not 
be less valuable in the army of the United States. If the humane senti¬ 
ment in the countries mentioned sanctions such an elaborate organiza¬ 
tion to provide proper care and treatment for animals, should not the 
United States take an equally advanced position in this respect ? In 
my judgment it should, and no better or more fitting time could be found 
than now. 
The efficiency of an army in the field does and must depend upon the 
health and strength of its force, and the health and strength of the troop 
and battery animals are as important as that of the men. To be certain 
of the efficiency of army animals is most essential. 
Of first importance in this regard is that animals purchased for army 
service should be inspected, before acceptance, by men who are in every 
way competent to inspect, and the graduate professional veterinarian is 
the one who alone can and does fill this requirement. Next is the proper 
care of the health of these animals after they have become the property 
of the Government, and again there is but one who can be charged with 
this responsibility—the veterinarian. Not alone are we to be benefited 
by the incorporation of this corps into our army because of what it will 
do in the selection and care of animals necessary to its organization, 
but as well will this corps be most valuable in the inspection of flesh 
food for our troops. It is the veterinarian who, by reason of his educa- 
* This grade recently created. 
