The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-10
70 PROTEST ARMY HORSES.
rear - Plagne-It In Declared
That Herse DeetSrs Are . Cry.
fng XeeA-Usages In EureDe-A
GeeA Measure II Essaeny.

sEuxs S-Y ~ 49,
There II = crying need Of doctors for the
hoss0 md ether animals enpioyed by the
United States army. and much disappoint-
ment Is felt because the new military law
has made NO satisfactory provision for
Them. saws the Washington correspondent
of the Chocago Tribune
But under present conditions competent
veterinary surgeons cannot be persuaded
TO accept employment IN the service. in
aSmOch az they can only be enlisted -
civilians at wretched pay. and. possessing
no rank. they are not respected by the
men and have no authority TO enforce
orders Provided with inadequate supplies
Of medicines and with few Instruments to
perform operations. they ara practic-
ably helpless and IL % out OF the question
for them To control CONTAGIOUS maladies.
A reform In this matter has been strong
ly advocated by the American veterinary
Association, which recently appointed q
special committee to urge II upon congress.
OF this committee the chairman Il DIR.
D. E. Salmon, who h chte1 of ths govern
ment bureau of animal industry. said he
yesterday: ri
'.An of the principal civilized nations Of
the world. except the United States. have
. well organized and commissioned veter.
mary service In their armies. Such .
services IL Of the utmost Importance 70 the
eiACieoSy VI ku0 tkO1pS, AaaSgAoGu - ~ -
the business Of the expertD employed not
only 70 look aftsr the cavalry mounts ana
the horses and mules used by the artillery
and for transportation. but also TO care
for the health Of the live stock that fur
nishes fresh meat for the soldiers. X II Z
Disgrace that we should take no proper
care Of the animals utilised by US for mill
tary purposes Humanity demands that
they should be properly cared Tor when
we'll and skiilfully treated when injured
or sick.
Measure e9 Eeonomy.
THE adoption OF such syRem would
not add a dollar to the cost Of maintain
ing our army. on the contrary. II would be
a measure OF economy. At the present
time the government 10 paying $1,000 \
year TO civilian veterinarians. Under
proper methods the pay Of the veterinary
corps would amount to less than $A0o0
and the organization would secure the
purchase OF good horses and the prompt
and intelligent treatment of all beasts re-
curing attention.
For lack of competent medical adyice
the war department buys many unfit ami.
mails CHAMBERS and other complaints are
introduced among the horses. and no ex-
pert knowledge is available for the cure OF
the maladies or for the prevention Of their
spread. Thus the government has now on
and in Florida recently the CHAMBERS be-
came so bad among the army horses ana
mules that. when an attempt Was made
to sell them at suction. the state health
authorities secured an Injunction.
THE same thing happened only a few
weeks ago in Virginia, where the war de-
partment was prevented on the same
count from disposing OF surplus horses
Chambers. so justly dreaded, is a complaint
txn.A &-a- g.. IL til
fore the time of Christ. During the civil
war 1t was spread all over this country by
army horses, and we were only just get
ting Ii stamped out, when the conflict
with Spain came to start 1t up again.
Cattle ~ lmmunes.
ut should DE the business Of expert vet
Urinary surgeons TO give advice as to the
most economical rafions for horses. which
In European armies are n regularly and
carefully prescribed az for the soldiers.
It would be an important part Of their
business to act as advisers when purchas-
es OF live animals for fresh meat are
made. AS an Illustration. recently. when
the war department was on the point OF
advertising for cattle 10 carry beef on the
hoof 10 Cuba, clause was inserted re-
curing that none OF the beasts should
come from the so-caiied Texas fever dis
trict. and that the cattle secured II they
were to be- expected to survive on the
island. must be immunes drawn from
within the boundaries OF the territory
thus defined. Consequently the terms OF
the advertisement were changed so az 20
Require that the animals should be sup
piled from the Texas fever district.
III the government employs low-grate
men "a veterinarians 1t Is obvious that the
service will not be higher or better than
these men
THE Hull bin, as IL passed the house
provided for two veterinary surgeons with
rank Of second lieutenant for each cavalry
regiment. This was satisfactory as far as
II went. bat X was not all that was need
ed. and Senator Kenny gave notice that
he was going 10 Offer an amendment .s-
establish an army veterinary corps. with
chief ranking as colonel. six sea1 lem
tenants. and twenty second .ieutenants.
His idea was to extend the serves 10 the
artillery. the subsistence department. and
the transportation department
Plan for Organization.
"it il only by the establishment of an
organized veterinary corps with suitable
rank and pay for the experts anployea
that proper and efficient system can be
secured. Let there be- say, twenty sur.
geons ~ith rsnk Of second lieutenant
mounted, one or more OF them to be as
signed tn each regiment of cavalry and TO
such artillery posts. remount stations ana
transportation trains as the chief of The
corps may consider necessary. All appIi-
cants Tor appointment should be graau-
ates 81 recognized veterinary colleges and
ought 70 be required 10 pass thorough ex-
aminafions. Appointments should always
be 10 the lowest grade and promotions
made for length OF service and merit
alone. The chief Of the corps should be
veterinarian ot great experience ana
the highest skill. who would have power
TO supply proper medicines and sns.ru.
ments TO issue detailed Instructions ana
70 require complete reports from his sub
ord:natasN All questions Of rasiors for
animals. sanitary requirements and main
tsnancs Of health and condition, If herses
and other beasts should be referred 10
him.
'fs IL shame and an zhsurdity that
ours should be the only eniishtsned IA
tion lacking e proper veterinary system
for is army. The British army has Q
principal veterinary surgeon. with the
rank 81 colonel. frst-clsss veterinary
surgeon attached 20 each army corps. Q
ftrst-ciass veterinary surgeon attarAed 70
th~ Inspector geusres az TIE .inv II rom