CORRESPONDENCE. 
491 
thereby to ventilate the matter more thoroughly, and, more par¬ 
ticularly, to induce some graduated military veterinary surgeon 
to raise his voice and bring before the profession the grievances 
of that particular branch of ihe service. 
The following passage is taken from the Veterinary Journal , 
of England, August, 1879, page 139, written by its able and 
gentleman-like editor, Geo. Fleming, Esq., Y.S., 2d Life Guards: 
“ Although the expense of living in the cavalry is higher 
than in other branches, yet veterinary surgeons under the new 
rates can afford to live at mess, be otherwise comfortable with a 
salary of £250 yearly, no rent, no taxes or rates to pay, fuel, 
light and servants found, and no forage to purchase. It is his 
own fault, if a young man cannot afford to live well in the army.’ 
I fully endorse the above, and consider the life of a British 
Army Y.S. an enviable one: he is well paid; his two horses are 
fed; he gets fuel, light, servant and lodgings free; he holds Her 
Majesty’s Commission, and is therefore an officer and a gentleman; 
he wears a rich uniform; is on intimate terms with his brother 
officers ; his social position is good; he lives in a large garrison 
town ; his promotion is sure ; he gets a liberal pension for loss of 
health or long service; in case of death, his widow is provided 
for; his manual labors are nil, as he is provided with a subordinate 
(Farrier Sergeant) who dispenses and administers medicines and 
sees that his superior officer’s instructions are fully carried out; 
in fact, Iris life is a fac-simile of his professional brethren in the 
European armies, if not a great deal better. 
Let us now turn to those persons practicing at veterinarians in 
the United States military service, if such a department has an 
existence. 
Yankee military authorities are somewhat boastful of their 
superiority and general army efficiency ; for their sakes, let us 
hope this does not include their military veterinary service. Is 
there a principal veterinary official, if so, does he possess any 
professional qualification ? Where are his annual reports, his 
statistics as to annual losses, causes and rates of death, general 
health of animals employed in military service, rejected animals 
unfit for service, etc., etc. ? I have never heard of such a docu- 
