El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-06-04
CARD INDEXES
HORSES IN WAR
Veterinary Corps Keeps
Detailed Record Of Each
Animal in Service.
BY r. ]. PRITCHARD.

An interesting comparison is drawn
between the horse and the man in
the United States army. by a soldier
Of the veterinary corps in FL PasO-
It is a matter Of common knowledge
that the enlisted man is provided
with an Identification tag from the
day Of his enlistment. that a careful
record Of his everyday life is kept
including every meal he eats every
time he is i'll. every time he needs
medical attention, every issue CT
clothing. and every time he draws his
pay A record Of every movement
The man makes, and one in touch with
The records can tell just where any
man in the United States army is
posted
Lacks Only Payroll.
But few persons know that with
She advent OF the new arm Of the
service. the veterinary corps, a SINH
larlv detailed record is keut Of the
horses and mules in the army The
Identification tag around the neck
of the enlisted man is replaced by
brand in the hoof Of the animal. One
front hoof IS branded with the ami
mails number as registered IN the
office Of the veterinary corps, and in
the other hoof is burned the number
Of his organization. This method Of
Identifying animals has long been
practiced in the army, and antedates
the veterinary corps by many years
But the same record is kept Of the
horse that is kept Of the man. When
he is mustered into the army at the
remOunt station his description is
taken, and is preserved with all his
other records. The number Of meals
he eats the illnesses through which
he passes. any injuries he may sus-
tain. and all transfers are carefully
recorded The only record the animal
does not have that his human cOmrade
has is payroll All he gets is his
board and stable.
on File in Washington.
At army headquarters at Washing
ton is kept a record Of the final dis
position Of every man in the army
If the man is mustered out, that is
noted, II he is killed, that also is
recorded The horse has the same
carefully kept record, and his memory
is as carefully kept in the files Of
the war department If ne is killed in
action, as is that OF the rider who
may be killed with him
Care for the Disabled.
Until the organization Of the veter-
mary corps. there were no hospitals
TO which 10 send horses or mules
which might be sick or wounded. Or
EaniZauOn veterinary officers had
charge Of the health Of the animals.
was possible under the conditions. But
the new branch Of the army has pro-
Vided this missing equipment for the
comfort and care Of the animals in
Uncle Sans armies, and base hOspi-
tails are being established both in
the home camps and across the water
behind the lines. Sick horses and
mules and animals injured accidental
ly OF in battle are brought TO the hos
pitfalls and given treatment If il is
thought that there is any chance
70 save them If in the judgment Of
the veterinary corps, there is no hope,
they are shot which is another way
in which their treatment differs from
their human comrades
Blue Cross, Horses Friend.
An interesting sideliEht is shed on
the humane treatment OF horses in
France by Maj. Robert Vans Agnew.
one Of the organizers Of the veteri-
nary corps. who was recently trans
ferred TO san Antonio from FL Paso,
where he was head Of the veterinary
corps-of the 18th cavalry division The
Red Cross society, with its great
machinery for the alienation Of hui
man suffering. has its prototype in
France in a society for the welfare
of war horses. known as the Blue
Cross society, according 10 Maj. Vans
AEnew. This organization does the
same work for the sick and wounded
horses Of the French army that the
Red Cross does for the soldiers. Sub
scrlpLOns for its support are raised
IN the same way, its work is carried
on in much the same way. and the
decrepit old equine veterans are re-
Juvenated into new leases Of life, so
that though they may never again
drag a cannon, or bear a cavalryman
TO action, they are still able TO pull
a French pillow through the earth, and
haul the garden truck 10 market