A PORT SURGEON FOR CALCUTTA. Where is
Why, when
our
Health Officer for the harbour of Calcutta?
other ports have their Port
Surgeon, is the capital important functionary ? Are we to wait until a grave catastrophe drags into the light of noonday some of the arcana which are a disgrace to the river ? Meanwhile, the various duties which a Port Surgeon is urgently required to perform remain neglected!?an official sanitary inspection of the shipping, a careful enquiry into tha condition of the crews, and the investigation and analysis of food and water supplies being amongst the chief. A Sanatory Commissioner for the river, invested with plenary powers, and allowed to deal summarily with cases requiring immediate action, would, if he did his duty, be the means of preventing much of the sickness (and consequent mortality) which now prevails from time Who is now responsible for the to time amongst the shipping. welfare of the ships' crews ? The river practitioners have no official status. They may recommend sanatory measures to the owners and captains of vessels, but who can insist upon their being carried out ? An unofficial surgeon may urge that one of the ship's hands about to bo attacked by cholera?nay, who may of India still without this
be in the first stage of the disease?should be sent to one of the hospitals in the town; but what if the captain refuse ? The man
may be dead before night; but does enquiry ??is anybody hung ?
anything happen??is
there any
writing without grounds for what we write. Such happened, and they will happen, again and again, until the arm of the law?in the shape of a Port Surgeon?is extended over the Hooghly. Human life is too precious to be We are not
things
have
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
284
trifled with in this way. The captain who has been urged to send the sick sailor to hospital, may not viciously oppose the He may be a very humane man; but the It will cost money to keep him in hospital, his detention there may be prolonged, and the captain may
surgeon's views.
sailor is valuable.
compelled to sail short-handed, or?the wages of the port being high?to entertain an expensive substitute in his room; consequently the captain keeps the sick sailor on board, hoping that he will do well, and thinking perhaps that the doctor is wrong. Let the mercantile community of Calcutta look into this grave question. They are deeply interested in the welfare of every sailor who comes into the port, and in the sanitary condition of every ship. They have already done much for the sailor's comfort and amusement on shore : will they not assist in protecting him when afloat in their own harbour ? The Port Surgeon of Calcutta should in his own person be
be
more
of
administrative than
an
vidually,
must not be
expected ship, as it
an
executive officer.
to peer into the
He, indi-
insanatory
holes
was intended the Health Officer of every should do into the drains of the town : he must have an execu-
and
corners
tive
staff, and only assume their requested to do so.
duties
on
important occasions,
or
when
We have not space to say all we could wish on this most subject; but we would add, in conclusion, to allay the
serious
fears of those
gentlemen who practise on the river, that the Surgeon will in no way interfere witli them. The tax of nine pie per ton on every vessel is far more likely to do so. Owners, feeling that they must pay this tax, will send all their really sick to hospital. They will not like to pay twice over. Indeed, we have heard of an instance in which a river practitioner has actually received his notice creation of
a
Port
"
quit" on this ground. But we would caution owners against being too premature. The hospital accommodation in Calcutta to
is not
so
abundant that "
admission
for
required.
Meanwhile,
"
Jack."
they No;
we
will
always be able to secure hospitals are urgently
more
would say to
our
river friends?
probably be no material changes in your not yet reduced to the condition of are generation ; you Othello ; your occupation is not yet gone." Fear not, there will
-
[December ],
1868.
Why, when
our
Health Officer for the harbour of Calcutta?
other ports have their Port
Surgeon, is the capital important functionary ? Are we to wait until a grave catastrophe drags into the light of noonday some of the arcana which are a disgrace to the river ? Meanwhile, the various duties which a Port Surgeon is urgently required to perform remain neglected!?an official sanitary inspection of the shipping, a careful enquiry into tha condition of the crews, and the investigation and analysis of food and water supplies being amongst the chief. A Sanatory Commissioner for the river, invested with plenary powers, and allowed to deal summarily with cases requiring immediate action, would, if he did his duty, be the means of preventing much of the sickness (and consequent mortality) which now prevails from time Who is now responsible for the to time amongst the shipping. welfare of the ships' crews ? The river practitioners have no official status. They may recommend sanatory measures to the owners and captains of vessels, but who can insist upon their being carried out ? An unofficial surgeon may urge that one of the ship's hands about to bo attacked by cholera?nay, who may of India still without this
be in the first stage of the disease?should be sent to one of the hospitals in the town; but what if the captain refuse ? The man
may be dead before night; but does enquiry ??is anybody hung ?
anything happen??is
there any
writing without grounds for what we write. Such happened, and they will happen, again and again, until the arm of the law?in the shape of a Port Surgeon?is extended over the Hooghly. Human life is too precious to be We are not
things
have
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
284
trifled with in this way. The captain who has been urged to send the sick sailor to hospital, may not viciously oppose the He may be a very humane man; but the It will cost money to keep him in hospital, his detention there may be prolonged, and the captain may
surgeon's views.
sailor is valuable.
compelled to sail short-handed, or?the wages of the port being high?to entertain an expensive substitute in his room; consequently the captain keeps the sick sailor on board, hoping that he will do well, and thinking perhaps that the doctor is wrong. Let the mercantile community of Calcutta look into this grave question. They are deeply interested in the welfare of every sailor who comes into the port, and in the sanitary condition of every ship. They have already done much for the sailor's comfort and amusement on shore : will they not assist in protecting him when afloat in their own harbour ? The Port Surgeon of Calcutta should in his own person be
be
more
of
administrative than
an
vidually,
must not be
expected ship, as it
an
executive officer.
to peer into the
He, indi-
insanatory
holes
was intended the Health Officer of every should do into the drains of the town : he must have an execu-
and
corners
tive
staff, and only assume their requested to do so.
duties
on
important occasions,
or
when
We have not space to say all we could wish on this most subject; but we would add, in conclusion, to allay the
serious
fears of those
gentlemen who practise on the river, that the Surgeon will in no way interfere witli them. The tax of nine pie per ton on every vessel is far more likely to do so. Owners, feeling that they must pay this tax, will send all their really sick to hospital. They will not like to pay twice over. Indeed, we have heard of an instance in which a river practitioner has actually received his notice creation of
a
Port
"
quit" on this ground. But we would caution owners against being too premature. The hospital accommodation in Calcutta to
is not
so
abundant that "
admission
for
required.
Meanwhile,
"
Jack."
they No;
we
will
always be able to secure hospitals are urgently
more
would say to
our
river friends?
probably be no material changes in your not yet reduced to the condition of are generation ; you Othello ; your occupation is not yet gone." Fear not, there will
-
[December ],
1868.
