404 
A. A. HOLCOMBE. 
“Fort Leavenworth, Kans., December 10th, 1880. 
“ Dear Sir : 
“ Desiring to see the veterinary profession properly repre¬ 
sented in the United States army, and to have the Army Veteri¬ 
nary Surgeon a commissioned officer, I would respectfully ask if 
you will lend your influence to an endeavor in that direction. 
“ If so, be kind enough to communicate with me at the ear¬ 
liest convenience. Respectfully, 
“ Your obedient servant, 
(Signed,) “ A. A. Holcombe, 
“ Inspecting Veterinary Surgeon , U. S. A.” 
To this letter I received answers favorable to the project from 
Veterinary Surgeons Humphries, W. H. Going, Peters, J. B. 
Going, Hingston, Bock and Tempany. From the remaining four 
I received no answer whatever. 
It had been the intention of the author of the above letter to 
secure the co-operation of all the Veterinary Surgeons in the 
army in petitioning Congress to do us the justice of passing a 
law that should make us commissioned officers. But learning of 
the failure of the petition originating with Veterinary Surgeon 
Humphries, it was determined to present to the United States 
Veterinary Medical Association a short account of the growth of 
veterinary medicine in the army, to enumerate our grievances, 
and, showing you how little we can hope to accomplish single- 
handed, ask that you espouse our cause in the interest of all vet¬ 
erinary medicine. 
That we are not accorded our just rights, I feel sure you 
already know. That they are not fully or ably set forth in the 
following pages of this article, I am sensibly conscious, while the 
needs of the Government to establish a proper V eterinary De¬ 
partment, as hereinafter set forth, may not meet with your 
more mature views. 
But however much we may differ on minor points, there can 
be no difference of opinion regarding the stigma which the pres¬ 
ent Department is to the profession, nor do we doubt but that 
you can render us such assistance as will make our positions at 
least respectable and endurable. 
