CORRESPONDENCE. 
239 
J EFEERSON BARRACKS, Mo., ) 
August 4th, 1879. 5 
Editor American Veterinary Review: 
Bear Sir: —The article bj J. C. Meyer, Sr., Y.S., in your 
August number, concerning Army veterinary matters as they 
appeared to him during the late war, would suit a large part of 
the service to-day. Truthful as is this article, it is very unpala¬ 
table reading for a lover of the horse; for one naturally expects 
to see the horses in government employ cared for in the best 
manner—whereas, for some unexplained reason, the army has 
never made an attempt, till lately, toward the formation of a 
properly constituted Veterinary Department. This is very strange, 
when one reflects upon the enlightened liberality that is lavished 
upon all other branches of the service, surpassing in this particu¬ 
lar, most other armies in the world. I am glad, however, to be 
able to show that this long-neglected branch of the service has 
been taken up by the authorities in good earnest, and that steps 
have already been taken to elevate it to a much higher degree of 
efficiency than it has ever heretofore enjoyed. This progressive 
movement was initiated by Quartermaster General Montgomery 
C. Meigs, and the result of his action in this matter will be seen 
in the liberal provisions contained in the enclosed General Order 
of the War Department, which goes into operation this month. 
In order to appreciate the improvement effected by the Supply 
Table contained in this General Order, in regard especially to the 
variety and quantities of the articles allowed, one would have to 
consult the Supply Table that is superceded by this one, which 
allowed but a beggerly assortment in stingy quantities, scarce 
anything that a cultivated veterinary surgeon could work with 
It will be seen also, by consulting the above-mentioned Order, 
that hereafter, appointments as veterinary surgeons will be con¬ 
fined to graduates of veterinary colleges. Herein lies the essence 
