Arizona republican., 1917-03-28

been even less involved As a matter
of fact the mules are so tough and
hardy they seldom enter into the
veterinary statistics.
The hospitals provided for them
by the army must very nearly ap-
preach the horses idea of heaven
1t is a joy to go into one of the con-
Vaiescent wards" especially at meal
times Sometimes the cony alescents
stand almost nose to nose. and If the
horse across the way gets his hay
first, there is a terrible huliabaloo
A particularly ravenous patient now
and then viii net only eat his por-
ton of hay but the rope net that sur
rounds it. y few nights ago one
had such healthy appetite he tried
to eat the blanket If his nearest
neighbor
All the horses in hospitals are fed
four times day. The more debili-
tated ones are fed five and six tines
When they are particularly run down
and in Danger of being mistaken for
sort of bone ard nat-racks. the
patients get nothing but cooked foods
and they fairly reVel in them. They
have tonics. too. and it is remark
able 20 see the Improvement in their
condition in few weeks. The diet
s
gfsel, linseed Cruel boiled turnips
and scalded oats Later they get
crushed oats and chopped hay, and
almost before they know it are in
the convaiescent ward.
The operating rooms with their big
beds spread upon the concrete floors
are as CHEEKY and Immaculate as if
intended for human beings. For all
except the most minor operations an
anaesthetic is administered
The horses take the chloroform
remarkably we'll" said the officer
commanding one of the hospitals to
, the correspondent of the Associated
Press. Il don't think we lost but one
natiert in the last six MONTHS is
added.
Patient seems most appropriate
designation Cor the horses They are
very pictures of patience until they
reach the stage of conVale sence Each
patient has little aluminium tag and
a hospital chart which tells his age.
color, where he came from, what he
shall have to eat and drink and take
wher he shall have a nice hot bath
a"d various notations as to his con-
ditiOr and behavior. There is per-
sonah touch about the treatment of
The horses which IN tself bespeaks
the esteem in which they, are held.
Walking aDout the wards. the 30.
g. had a lind word or two for his
natients II seemed a particularly
ermar thing to do And he patted
most of them and called many by
name
This old charger" he said Of one,
lis a great favoritC in the hospital
He has been one OF the bravest OF
the brave. has lost ar eve in battle
and coli hin,
going 10 send to Paris and get him I
good glass eye before he goes back
to the front so none of the other
horses will have a chance to 'swank'
it over him. 1t won't really be Il
glass eye. because they are made of
a composition not SO fragile. The
horses do not mind the artificial
eyes at all and they look awfully
well in Them
SO thorough is the work of the
veterinary service that if a patient
develops a contagious disease all the
horses in the unit from which he
came are called in for disinfection
and examination. So successful is
the work that 50 Der cent of al sick
cases and casualties are returned
to active service.
II we were dealing with human
beings" said the officer commanding
we could run the percentage mp to
The ninetics. But unfortunately in
dealing with the horses we have at
times to weigh their cases in the
scales of pounds, shillings and pence
In other words, we have to decide
whether it vii! pay to save the ami
NAL, Is he too old 10 be of much
service when he is cured. or will
the course of treatment be so long
ard extensive rs to outweigh the
value of future usefulness2 In striv
ing for war efficiency and the high
est rotentialitv of horse power all