is little doubt, uncomplaining acquiescence would be rendered. But in the total absence of any such reasons, bearing the vital injury inflicted in assenting silence, appears only evidence of that apathy and despondency unfortunately so often remarkable. As mentioned previously, I can scarcely imagine the authorities were fully aware of the extent of injury so harshly inflicted on our Service. Accordingly, as the orders at present stand, a medical officer in military employ, going home on furlough, or sick leave, not only loses his right to return to his regiment, but also some ?120 per annum, as an assistaut-surgeon of five years' service, and so on, in an ascending scale, to the highest grade. Similarly, as the Financial Department will doubtless rule, as the civil medical officer has no claim to retain his he has no lien on half the allowances, which, of

appointment,

course, will reduce his pay to the half of the unemployed scale enjoyed by the confrere deprived of his regiment!

But this does not represent the pecuniary loss in toto. Many ino3t medical officers in civil employ) own property, such as the house they live in. Not now being permitted to return to the appointment previously held, every thing must be sold, and re-purchase takes place on again entering on Indian Service. Even if done leisurely, pecuniary loss is almost certain. In the case of medical officers suddenly leaving oil account of sickness, and so obliged to sell off at once, the popular phrase " alarming sacrifice," scarcely expresses the ruination which must so threaten many.

(perhaps

Again, consider the case of a medical officer who has worked and waited for years for some civil appointment. At length he is rewarded by obtaining the coveted post. But he falls sick, and is obliged to visit Europe. He therefore loses the position lie has attained, and on return to India must seek his fortune afresh.

THE FURLOUGH RULES AND THE MEDICAL SERVICE.

TO

THE

EDITOR

OF

THE

INDIAN

?

MEDICAL

GAZETTE.

Sir,?I suppose Government, publishing the orders afterwards referred to, clearly appreciated the real injury thereby inflicted on the Medical Service : otherwise I do not think the said orders would have appeared in the Gazette. If I mistake not, the Indian Medical Service has hitherto been regarded as a branch of the Army, subject, as regards Furlough Rules and other vital points, to precisely the same treatment. Certainly, the Furlough Regulations of 1796 and 1854 were equally applicable to both classes ; the advantages equally available to all. And so, indeed, was it intended the rules of 18G8 should apply. This is plainly evident from para. 34, which reads,?"officers of the Indian Military and Medical Services will be required generally to notify their intention to accept these rules on the first occasion of their taking furlough." What then can be urged in justification of the order No. 1175, " dated 29th December last, in which it is stated that regimental medical charges aro not considered appointments in the sense " of Clauses 2, 7, 13, and 16 of the Furlough Rules of 1868 ? Or in defence of No. 660 of 1869, containing resolution of Government, to the effect that an officer in charge of a civil station " should not have any claim to re-appointment to the same station." The Furlough Rules of 1868 clearly state (vide para. 2), that leave taken under the rules now prescribed "will not involve forfeiture of appointment, and (vide para 5), that officers drawing staff pay in addition to pay of rank, proceeding of on furlough, will be allowed pay at the rate of 50 per cent, the salary of their substantive appointments. But these advantages enjoyed by the whole army, whether in military or civil employ, are ruthlessly denied to the Medical Service. And this without one word of explanation. Of course Government is not called upon to give the why and wherefore of every procedure considered necessary. But in such a matter as the present, when a department is called upon to sacrifice the most vital interests, it certainly does appear that some reason for the demand should be assigned. I feel quite sure, that in loyalty, in devotion to duty, in cheerful resignation to laws of necessity, the Medical Department, as a body, is second to no class of the public Service. And if the necessity, or even the advisability, of depriving the Mfedical Service of the principal advantages of the Furlough Rules enjoyed by other classes, were demonstrated, there cannot

in

I am aware that it is ruled, in the Civil Service Furlough Rules of 1868, that a civil servant taking furlough vacatcs his appointment. But I beg to submit that this cannot be advanced as a reason for singling the Medical from all Military Departments, for the application of this particular rule of the Civil Service. If this be just, it would be equally right to apply all the rules of the Civil Service to the medical officers. Doubtless, few of us would dissent from such an order. Doubtless, the whole military body would gladly participate in the loaves and fishes and disadvantages of the Civil Service ; would exchange rules, furlough, pay, pension, with considerable alacrity. But the application of the most disadvantageous clause of the Civil Service Furlough Rules, to one class of military officers alone?viz., medical officers in civil employ?is a procedure which, in the absence of any just reason, I for one must regard as a legitimate cause of complaint and remonstrance to the highest authorities. In the order previously quoted, No. 660 of 1869, ruling a medical officer has no claim to return to a civil appointment, it is stated, that he may retain a lien on some appointment of equal emolument. But we all know the value of any such guarantee. Even if acted up to in spirit and letter, whenever opportunity of doing so presented, it is clear that no Government or adminstration would always have the opportunity. Medical officers holding appointments could not, I presume, be removed to make room for others returning from Europe with " a claim" to an appointment of equal emolument to the one they held before proceeding on furlough. For a first-class civil station, a man with a " claim" might wait years. For first-class civil surgeoncies are few and far between. The para, therefore of the order, stating that the medical officer, not permitted to retain his appointment, shall retain a lien on one of equal value, is not worth the paper on which it is printed ! Right and justice generally prevail in the end. The invidious destruction now marking the Medical Service?the withdrawal of the two principal advantages of the Furlough Rules?is an exception to the rule of right and justice prevailing, and as such imperatively demands redress. I am, Sir, Yours

September, a

1869.

faithfully, SCKUTATOK.

*** Relinquishing his regimental appointment does not affect the pay of medical officer on furlough. A regimental Assistant Surgeon of 8 years'

standing, say, would receive 50 per cent, of his pay, i. e., ?30 a month. ITo officer can draw less than ?250 a year while on leave home. A medical officer in civil employ receives, on furlough, 50 per cent, of his grade pay, new scale, in lieu of 50 per cent, of his salary, should tha former be

more

than the

latter.

The Furlough Rules and the Medical Service.

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