THE INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICE. We mentioned in
last issue the
our
rumours
for some time
prevalent regarding impending changes in the Indian Medical Service, stating at the same time our inability to give either authoritative denial or otherwise in the matter. When one lay contemporary with pseudo demi-official pomposity asserts that we, as a body, are to disappear from the scene altogether; when another informs lis that our brother officers in Madras have been called upon to elect whether military or civil career when distinctness details when the Ilome
an
they
would henceforth pursue
a
third newspaper with horrible impracticable scheme of " amalgamation a
journals roundly
assert
that the cessatiou of
periodical examinations has been caused by the "concoction" of coming events, which thus cast their shadow before them ; when, as a necessary result, a spirit of unrest prevails throughout all ranks; when we sit like Damocles, or Phlegas, with swords or stones, in the shape of annihilating G. G. O.'s over our heads; when, in short, the medical mind in India is disturbed almost tp on us
a
"
winter of discontent," it appears incumbent barely notice the subject. And in doing
to do more than
so, while
hoping
believe
we
we
proud
are
are
to serve
acting to
ourselves,
to the best
we
at the same time
advantage
serve; for the Medical
firmly
of the Government
Services,
different from other departments in many respects,
are
however
neverthe-
employees of the State by that union of interests, without which neither master nor servant can attain
less identified with all
Jamtabt 1, to
1872.] SANITARY
DEFECTS IN THE MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL.
therefore, most respectfully venture to urge on Government the desirability of declaring the future intentions entertained with regard to the Medical Services. Nay ! we would even proceed further, and say that by taking the Service into its confidence, any steps under contemplation would be materially facilitated. On the other hand, We would,
satisfactory working.
if the rumours to which
we
have referred have jio real found-
ation, a declaration to that effect would at once relieve those now serving under what may be not unaptly described, a ban of uncertainty." Every body is aware how soon people make up their minds to the inevitable, and should an alteration in the constitution of the Service be considered desirable, as a measure of statescraft, we feel sure that our brethren, as a body, fully informed of the circumstances affecting their future, would not be slow in accepting the decision arrived at, and in putting their hands to the helm with a hearty good will. The past history of the medical body corporate in India sufficiently demonstrates its power of sustaining the bumps and bruises of every-day life with even Spartan fortitude. And so it would act in the future. But it cannot be forgotten that confidence begets confidence. "
And it is this want of confidence, as our position enables 'us to state, which medical officers feel most acutely. No persons, much less a whole Service, can see with satisfaction their future
manipulated behind an impenetrable "purdah" Had we the certainty that some members at least of our own body, taken into the confidence of the statesmen who
now
even
were
arbitrate
being heard would be afforded. But under existing circumstances, so far as we know, a committee of civilians, or a military commission, or even half a dozen clerks in the India Office, may represent the Juggerdestinies,
our
some assurance
nauth under which
respectfully assert, any representative
we
that
a
of our voice
may in future groan. But we most commission on affairs medical, without
from the latter
body,
mistake: will in future be remembered to
the well-known
play
will prove a
as
of Hamlet with a
grand example similar principal character
an
age very few matters are the better for secrecy; and assuredly the proposed reconstitution of the Indian Medical Service cannot be classed in the minority. If, as we
omitted,
In
this
think, alterations and changes ask, could possibly occur from measures
?
On the contrary,
we
are
the
inevitable, what harm, we publicity of the proposed
think benefit would result. The
Service, collectively or individually, would have an opportunity of expressing its views, and although we recollect the old adage of the broth and the cooks, we have still the dictum of Solomon himself that there is wisdom in a multitude of councillors.
In every bushel of chaff there are some
grains of wheat, metaphorical wheat here indicated may be found of more utility than, perhaps, Government would suppose. It is not our intention, at the present time, to indicate the rocks on which the Indian Medical Service grounds, in its attempt to render good service to the State: neither do we aim at ex cathedra details as to its amendment; for the aspect of affairs is such, that attempts in this direction would savour of presumption. Moreover, unsolicited advice, or even suggestion, is, as a rule, unpalatable. But we are quite aware that the Medical Service in India might be carried on more economically, might interfere less with the duties, or what might become the duties of the British Service, might be rendered of more sanitary value to the empire at large, might consist of a more contented body of officers?might, in short, render a return more commenand the
surate with, the
expenditure
involved:
but,
17
again say, this corporation that thoughts are
we
cannot be affected without the counsel and cordial of those most
nearly
concerned. We are aware
unspoken, even though there may seem to provocation, but we believe our present appeal for information as to our future, is in the true interests of all concerned; at least, this is the spirit in which we have written. If no changes are to be made, let it be so declared. If the contrary, let the opinions of the Service find expression ; then may the diseased medical molar be easily extracted, but to cure a man of the tooth-ache by rushing at him in the dark and knocking all his teeth down his throat, would be a suspicious sometimes better left be sufficient
recommendation to dental surgery.
last issue the
our
rumours
for some time
prevalent regarding impending changes in the Indian Medical Service, stating at the same time our inability to give either authoritative denial or otherwise in the matter. When one lay contemporary with pseudo demi-official pomposity asserts that we, as a body, are to disappear from the scene altogether; when another informs lis that our brother officers in Madras have been called upon to elect whether military or civil career when distinctness details when the Ilome
an
they
would henceforth pursue
a
third newspaper with horrible impracticable scheme of " amalgamation a
journals roundly
assert
that the cessatiou of
periodical examinations has been caused by the "concoction" of coming events, which thus cast their shadow before them ; when, as a necessary result, a spirit of unrest prevails throughout all ranks; when we sit like Damocles, or Phlegas, with swords or stones, in the shape of annihilating G. G. O.'s over our heads; when, in short, the medical mind in India is disturbed almost tp on us
a
"
winter of discontent," it appears incumbent barely notice the subject. And in doing
to do more than
so, while
hoping
believe
we
we
proud
are
are
to serve
acting to
ourselves,
to the best
we
at the same time
advantage
serve; for the Medical
firmly
of the Government
Services,
different from other departments in many respects,
are
however
neverthe-
employees of the State by that union of interests, without which neither master nor servant can attain
less identified with all
Jamtabt 1, to
1872.] SANITARY
DEFECTS IN THE MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL.
therefore, most respectfully venture to urge on Government the desirability of declaring the future intentions entertained with regard to the Medical Services. Nay ! we would even proceed further, and say that by taking the Service into its confidence, any steps under contemplation would be materially facilitated. On the other hand, We would,
satisfactory working.
if the rumours to which
we
have referred have jio real found-
ation, a declaration to that effect would at once relieve those now serving under what may be not unaptly described, a ban of uncertainty." Every body is aware how soon people make up their minds to the inevitable, and should an alteration in the constitution of the Service be considered desirable, as a measure of statescraft, we feel sure that our brethren, as a body, fully informed of the circumstances affecting their future, would not be slow in accepting the decision arrived at, and in putting their hands to the helm with a hearty good will. The past history of the medical body corporate in India sufficiently demonstrates its power of sustaining the bumps and bruises of every-day life with even Spartan fortitude. And so it would act in the future. But it cannot be forgotten that confidence begets confidence. "
And it is this want of confidence, as our position enables 'us to state, which medical officers feel most acutely. No persons, much less a whole Service, can see with satisfaction their future
manipulated behind an impenetrable "purdah" Had we the certainty that some members at least of our own body, taken into the confidence of the statesmen who
now
even
were
arbitrate
being heard would be afforded. But under existing circumstances, so far as we know, a committee of civilians, or a military commission, or even half a dozen clerks in the India Office, may represent the Juggerdestinies,
our
some assurance
nauth under which
respectfully assert, any representative
we
that
a
of our voice
may in future groan. But we most commission on affairs medical, without
from the latter
body,
mistake: will in future be remembered to
the well-known
play
will prove a
as
of Hamlet with a
grand example similar principal character
an
age very few matters are the better for secrecy; and assuredly the proposed reconstitution of the Indian Medical Service cannot be classed in the minority. If, as we
omitted,
In
this
think, alterations and changes ask, could possibly occur from measures
?
On the contrary,
we
are
the
inevitable, what harm, we publicity of the proposed
think benefit would result. The
Service, collectively or individually, would have an opportunity of expressing its views, and although we recollect the old adage of the broth and the cooks, we have still the dictum of Solomon himself that there is wisdom in a multitude of councillors.
In every bushel of chaff there are some
grains of wheat, metaphorical wheat here indicated may be found of more utility than, perhaps, Government would suppose. It is not our intention, at the present time, to indicate the rocks on which the Indian Medical Service grounds, in its attempt to render good service to the State: neither do we aim at ex cathedra details as to its amendment; for the aspect of affairs is such, that attempts in this direction would savour of presumption. Moreover, unsolicited advice, or even suggestion, is, as a rule, unpalatable. But we are quite aware that the Medical Service in India might be carried on more economically, might interfere less with the duties, or what might become the duties of the British Service, might be rendered of more sanitary value to the empire at large, might consist of a more contented body of officers?might, in short, render a return more commenand the
surate with, the
expenditure
involved:
but,
17
again say, this corporation that thoughts are
we
cannot be affected without the counsel and cordial of those most
nearly
concerned. We are aware
unspoken, even though there may seem to provocation, but we believe our present appeal for information as to our future, is in the true interests of all concerned; at least, this is the spirit in which we have written. If no changes are to be made, let it be so declared. If the contrary, let the opinions of the Service find expression ; then may the diseased medical molar be easily extracted, but to cure a man of the tooth-ache by rushing at him in the dark and knocking all his teeth down his throat, would be a suspicious sometimes better left be sufficient
recommendation to dental surgery.
