AKMY VETERINARY MEDICINE. 
295 
inary Surgeons up to this time, were of the most nondescript 
order. During the period these orders were in force the positions 
were awarded, as a rule, to slioeing-smiths, farriers, or peripatetic 
quacks, who had imbibed empirical ideas of the most radical sort 
regarding the efficacy of certain remedial agents in the treatment 
of disease, and of the value of their own very limited knowledge. 
Generally, and with but a few honorable exceptions, these indi¬ 
viduals were as guiltless of an acquaintance with the simplest 
rudiments of veterinary medicine as a science, as they were of 
the English language, the usages of genteel society, or the real 
responsibilities of the positions they tried to till. As a matter of 
course, the value of veterinary medicine to the Army was very 
generally inferred from the nature of the service rendered by 
these men, and the veterinary profession, as a whole, was 
measured accordingly by this false standard. I have seen letters 
of recommendation, held by these individuals, from officers high 
in rank, which described the possessors as “ veterinary surgeons 
of great merit.” As well might they have been called “ eminent 
military scientists.” 
But, notwithstanding the adverse circumstances with which 
army veterinary surgery was surrounded and hampered in its 
growth, a few zealous workers held fast to their faith that it 
would some day receive a proper recognition, and in 1879 had 
their hopes and work in part awarded by the appearance of the 
following: 
“ General Orders No. 36. 
“ Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant-General’s Office, > 
“Washington, March 27, 1879. j 
“ I. The report of the Board of Officers appointed by para¬ 
graph 12, Special Orders No. 183, from this office, dated August 
24, 1878 (organization modified by par. 7, Special Orders No- 
211, from this office, dated October 1, 1878), ‘ To prepare and 
recommend a standard supply-table of veterinary medicines and 
instruments for use in the Army,’ having been approved by the 
Secretary of War, and its recommendations adopted, it is, by 
his direction, hereby published for the information of the Army 
and for the guidance of all concerned, and will take effect from 
July 1st, 1879. 
