494 
EDITORIAL. 
est importance to the welfare and efficiency of the force—abso¬ 
lutely indispensable, indeed, to the availability of the cavalry and 
artillery branches, whether in active field service or reposing idly 
in the camp. We are aware that such a claim is likely to be met 
with an incredulous sneer by the pretentious army officer who 
has arrived at the conclusion that the essence of military efficiency 
and respectability is exclusively compounded of gilt buttons and 
shoulder-straps organized into an aristocratic mess; but the intel¬ 
ligent soldier who undertakes to eliminate the artillery and cav¬ 
alry horse from his working efficiencies, will not be slow to dis¬ 
cover that a body whose limbs have suffered amputation will find 
itself in poor case to contend with an enemy endowed with its 
proper complement of organs of locomotion, and whom he can 
no more escape, if vanquished, than he can pursue if victorious. 
Whatever may be the reasons which have influenced the 
denial of the claims of the army veterinarians for adequate recog¬ 
nition in respect to rank and pay, we are, however, not informed. 
If any have been given, we are not aware of the fact, but we 
understand that another application is in contemplation, based on 
the ground of economic change. Whether this is foredoomed to 
a successful issue, we, of course, cannot say, and our hope of any 
very satisfying result is but small. Our impression is strong that 
no adequate concession need be looked for. except as the result 
of a process of compulsion. The veterinarians now in the army 
are no doubt holding their positions at a pecuniary sacrifice, not 
one among them probably realizing a money compensation for 
his services which would not be exceeded by the emoluments of 
his private practice. And it is, perhaps, only the mere truth to 
affirm that the reason why more new applicants are not present¬ 
ing themselves for commission is that their present income is 
more satisfactory and ample than the best terms likely to be 
realized from the official position. The method of self-vindication 
we would suggest to our brethren may be easily guessed out from 
these suggestive hints. The whip-hand is with the army veter¬ 
inarians, and we believe that the only chance for improvement in 
their position lies in their throwing the onus of reform upon army 
headquarters. Leave the army without reputable veterinarians 
