430 
EDITORIAL 
the purgative, it should be given in the tr. of capsicum. As seen 
in this case, the system stands large doses without unfavorable 
developments; for marked as was the opisthotonos at first, it was 
at no time increased during the administration of the strychnia. 
EDITORIAL. 
ARMY VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
In back numbers of the Review we have presented our readers 
with the statutes regulating the positions, requirement, rank and 
pay of veterinary surgeons in the English and French armies. In 
this number we reprint an article upon the same subject regarding 
the Italian military service. Our object in doing this is to present 
our military authorities with true light on this subject, and possi¬ 
bly to assist them in the work of reform which we are told, is to 
be inaugurated in that branch of the service. An improvement 
has already been inaugurated, published in September, which 
states that “ Hereafter appointments as veterinary surgeons will 
be confined to graduates of established and reputable veterinary 
schools or colleges.” This is an important step, but is it likely to 
be carried into effect, if one looks at the position, and above all, 
the pay oi said veterinarians? 
To be able to answer the many inquiries which have been made 
me, I wrote to the Adjutant-General of the army, and his answer 
will be found in full in this number of the Review. As will be 
seen, the pay is nominal. What are seventy-five or a hundred dol¬ 
lars a month for a gentleman, who, by fiis education and his 
knowledge, ought to expect to realize, by his profession, a much 
larger return for his work; and besides, what is the position of 
the veterinarian in the United States service ? Is it anything like 
that which we find in other armies ? Has he a rank ? Is he an 
officer? Is he even a military man? We understand, though 
we have no official authority for it, that lie is not enlisted, but is 
merely a civilian, which is called upon to perform certain military 
