The injuries resulting from pack saddles are of the same type as those caused by riding saddles and brought about in the same way, viz., dead continuous pressure or friction. In this way are produced inflamed withers from narrow arches, injuries under the side bar the result of thin panels and too many hours under heavy loads; injuries to the shoulder-blades and hips due to the panels being too long, all of which are remedied by removing the cause. But the load itself may be a source of injury, oscillation of the load will bruise the back through actual concussion, while a want of equilibrium will cause the saddle to heel over and cause injury to the withers and ridge of the back. These causes are all capable of control.

Balance of weight
A want of equilibrium in a load is a most serious source of trouble, and one which a few moments attention would rectify. If an animal has a pack of 100 pounds to carry it is certain he will carry it with more ease, less expenditure of energy, and with less risk of injury if it is so disposed that 50 pounds hand on either side of the body than if one load weighs 52 pounds and the other 48 pounds. When the difference in weight is 10 or even 20 pounds the risk of injury is enormously increased. Badly arranged loads, or what is more common, the thoughtlessness of soldiers, largely account for this want of equilibrium; when all the odds and ends left on a camping ground are hung indiscriminately on the nearest mules, and the baggage guard hang their rifles on any available projection in the load, the disturbance of balance can be readily understood. Of such supreme importance is the matter of load equilibrium that it would be far better to add a stone or a packet of sand to the light side rather than permit unequal loads to exist; but as a rule this is unnecessary, the picketing gear, nosebag, etc, of the mule is always available for small adjustments. The transport animals of an army shall be regarded as worth their weight in gold, no care or supervision can be too great or too strict. The eye of the transport officer cannot be everywhere in a column extending for miles, but arrangements should be made for dividing it into sections for the purpose of supervision, which latter must be constant and unremitting, taking cognisance of badly fitting harness, saddles, badly adjusted loads, overdriving, unauthorised loads, ungreased wheels, flogging and other irregularities which go to swell the unenviable lot of a transport animal.