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A. A. HOLCOMBE. 
ing military rank, and shall regulate detention and prize money, 
allowance granted on account of wounds or injuries received in 
action, and pensions and allowances to widows and families.” 
It is true our army cannot be compared to the English in point 
of size , but as regards efficiency , that is just as essential to our 
small army as to any; and a maximum efficiency of the trans¬ 
portation and cavalry service can never be effected without proper 
veterinary service; and proper veterinary service cannot be se¬ 
cured until the Army Veterinary Surgeon’s condition is greatly 
improved. 
That the present Army Veterinary Department is grossly 
inefficient must be patent to any one acquainted with its compo¬ 
sition—a fact that will be conceded, I think, by every Veterinary 
Surgeon in the army. That the primary cause of the inefficiency 
is not dependent on the profession is susceptible of the readiest 
demonstration. 
The simple fact that the Government has established a Vet¬ 
erinary Department is her acknowledgment of its importance 
and necessity; but that she recognizes in herself the cause of the 
Department’s inefficiency, or that she even is conscious of the 
existence of such inefficiency, is doubtful. 
It is reasonable to infer that she considers Gen. Ord. No. 
36, ’79, as a consummation of her duties to the profession, the 
Veterinary Department of the army, and herself, and yet she has 
in reality accomplished but a tithe of what was no doubt expected 
when the order was issued. It is true the order compliments the 
profession when it says • only qualified Veterinary Surgeons shall 
hereafter receive appointments ; but the compliment is an empty 
one unless supplemented by Congress with a law that shall recog¬ 
nize the right of the Veterinary Surgeon to a just compensation 
for his time and services. 
As the matter now stands, the Government has virtually said 
to the Veterinary Surgeons of the country: 
“ We are greatly in need of your services. We know you have 
been educated in a scientific profession to the same extent and 
at the same cost of time, labor and money as our surgeons. We 
recognize it is to our advantage to secure the best talent to be 
