ARMY VETERINARY MEDICINE. 
337 
ing which were horses, mules or oxen, the command to which 
they belonged, etc. But the “ Directions ” under the head of 
“ Remarks,” if properly complied with would supply very inter¬ 
esting and valuable information. They are as follows : “Here 
make any necessary explanations and communicate any matters 
of interest with regard to prevailing diseases or sanitary condition 
of the animals. Interesting cases and autopsies should be com¬ 
municated in full, either in this place or in an accompanying let¬ 
ter. In case a hospital is opened or closed during the month, it 
should be stated by whose order and on what day. When the 
command is moving, the station on the first and last of the month 
and the rate should be given. When possible, name the breed and 
stock of animals most subject to diseases, and state the diseases 
to which they are most liable.” 
This, then, is the order which at the present time governs the 
appointment of veterinary surgeons to the various cavalry regi¬ 
ments of the IJ. S. army, regulates the supply of medicines, 
dressings and instruments for his use, and in part determines his 
duties. Before reference is made to the individual veterinary 
surgeons who served in the army prior to 1879, let us review the 
foregoing orders, and placing them beside contemporary events 
of importance which characterize the growth of veterinary medi¬ 
cine in the United States, see whether or not the Government has 
given the profession that recognition which it could, by reason of 
its position in the world of science, justly expect. 
It is not surprising that the army contained no veterinary 
surgeons prior to 1861, when it is remembered that there were so 
few in the country and so little requirement for them in an army 
containing but two regiments of dragoons, two regiments of 
cavalry and one regiment of mounted riflemen, besides the horses 
and mules of the Quartermaster’s Department. But early in 
1861, a few weeks after the opening of the War of the Rebellion 
(May 4, 1861), when the first increase in the cavalry service was 
made, the Government recognized the importance of veterinary 
surgery by creating the office of Veterinary Sergeant. True, the 
position was not one that could tempt a veterinary surgeon to 
enlist in the service unless actuated by pure enthusiastic patriot- 
