Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That so much of section third of an act entitled "An Act to amend an act entitled An Act supplemental to an act entitled an An Act providing for the prosecution of the existing war between the United States and the republic of Mexico, and for other purposes," approved July nineteen, eighteen hundred and forty-eight, as prevents the filing of vacancies in the medical department of the army until further authorized by law, be, and the same is hereby, repealed.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the medical staff of the army be increased by the addition of ten assistant surgeons, to be appointed as provided by existing laws, and the regulations made under them.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the provisions of the act of eighteen hundred and thirty-eight be, and hereby are, extended so as to authorize the employment of ten additional chaplains, for military posts of the United States.

Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint a suitable person as judge advocate for the army, to be taken from the captains in the army, who shall have the brevet rank, pay, and emoluments of a major of cavalry, and that so much of the proviso to the third section of the act approved July nineteenth, eighteen hundred and forty-eight, as relates to officers of the Adjutant-General's department, be, and the same is hereby, repealed.

Approved, March 2, 1849.