THE SUBORDINATE MEDICAL SERVICE. Disgrace has fallen the
disgraceful
on
the Subordinate Medical Service
conduct of its
junior
members.
through During the
34 members of the year ended 30th June, 1871, no fewer than dismissed the have been for misconduct: class service apothecary
percentage of 8-8 in a strength of 384. The number inapothecaries, 9 assistant apothecaries, and 23 apprentices. Drunkenness was the crime in 15 cases, insubor-
?a
cludes 2 first class
dination in 5, while the remainder were got rid of for misconduct, absconding, forgery, fraud and falsehood. Nor is this all. Of 27 youths who were sent to study in the Medical College under G. G. 0. 550 of 1868, 12 have already been dismissed for drunkenness, insubordination and inattention to duty, and we believe that the majority of the remainder have not profited by the opportunities of professional improvement afforded them as they ought. No wonder that His Excellency the Commander-in-
Chief found it necessary to record remarks which reflect
censure
and
disgrace on a body of medical subordinates who have hitherto performed important services for the British Army in India creditably and well. Lord Napier's words are these :? "The numerous cases of drunkenness in the Subordinate Medical Department have attracted the Commander-in-Chief's attention. During the past year there have been 23 trials by
department, of which Considering the serious consefrom medicines being compounded or
court-martial for drunkenness in this 21 resulted in convictions.
quences which might arise administered by a medical subordinate in the
Commander-in-Chief, with
a
state of intoxication,
the sanction
of Government,
medical subordinates that any medical subordinate convicted by a court-martial of being drunk will be dismissed." warns
September 1, "We assent most
marks, weigh
and
THE INCOME TAX MINUTE.
1871.] entirely
in the truth and force of these re-
apothecary class It is no light seriously practical matter to be thus stigmatized by the highest military authority in India before the whole service, and it will take years of reformed behaviour to remove the damning impression imprinted on the minds of the whole army by this too-well-deserved sentence. The disgrace of one has now become but an instance which adds to the depth of a bad character which, we regret to write it, attaches not so much to the individual as to the service, and blackguards have got so numerous as to cover with a mantle of blackguardism their unoffending fellows. "We pen them
would have our readers of the and to
effect.
these words more in sorrow than in anger, suppress
our
indignation that
our
though
we
cannot
brethren of the subordinate
who share with us the sacred duty of ministering to infirmity, are so often found wanting in that steadiness, discipline, sobriety and desire to learn, which are such essential qualifications of those who select the healing act as an occupation. The position of the subordinate service has been greatly improved by recent orders, and the prospects of well-behaved, industrious and deserving members are excellent. Ambitious
service,
human
among them may look forward to posts of trust and importance in civil employ if they go home and qualify, as
men
many do, and have gained a good character in the service. "VVe would counsel each member of the service, and more particularly each young member, to look well to his life and conduct, and endeavour in as far as in him lies to remove the general stain that has been incurred. If all did so with a will and firm purno more of dismissals for drunkenness, or pose, we should hear insubordination, of courts-martial, or remarks in general orders damaging to the whole service, which would in a year or two regain its wonted credit for respectability and usefulness.
191
disgraceful
on
the Subordinate Medical Service
conduct of its
junior
members.
through During the
34 members of the year ended 30th June, 1871, no fewer than dismissed the have been for misconduct: class service apothecary
percentage of 8-8 in a strength of 384. The number inapothecaries, 9 assistant apothecaries, and 23 apprentices. Drunkenness was the crime in 15 cases, insubor-
?a
cludes 2 first class
dination in 5, while the remainder were got rid of for misconduct, absconding, forgery, fraud and falsehood. Nor is this all. Of 27 youths who were sent to study in the Medical College under G. G. 0. 550 of 1868, 12 have already been dismissed for drunkenness, insubordination and inattention to duty, and we believe that the majority of the remainder have not profited by the opportunities of professional improvement afforded them as they ought. No wonder that His Excellency the Commander-in-
Chief found it necessary to record remarks which reflect
censure
and
disgrace on a body of medical subordinates who have hitherto performed important services for the British Army in India creditably and well. Lord Napier's words are these :? "The numerous cases of drunkenness in the Subordinate Medical Department have attracted the Commander-in-Chief's attention. During the past year there have been 23 trials by
department, of which Considering the serious consefrom medicines being compounded or
court-martial for drunkenness in this 21 resulted in convictions.
quences which might arise administered by a medical subordinate in the
Commander-in-Chief, with
a
state of intoxication,
the sanction
of Government,
medical subordinates that any medical subordinate convicted by a court-martial of being drunk will be dismissed." warns
September 1, "We assent most
marks, weigh
and
THE INCOME TAX MINUTE.
1871.] entirely
in the truth and force of these re-
apothecary class It is no light seriously practical matter to be thus stigmatized by the highest military authority in India before the whole service, and it will take years of reformed behaviour to remove the damning impression imprinted on the minds of the whole army by this too-well-deserved sentence. The disgrace of one has now become but an instance which adds to the depth of a bad character which, we regret to write it, attaches not so much to the individual as to the service, and blackguards have got so numerous as to cover with a mantle of blackguardism their unoffending fellows. "We pen them
would have our readers of the and to
effect.
these words more in sorrow than in anger, suppress
our
indignation that
our
though
we
cannot
brethren of the subordinate
who share with us the sacred duty of ministering to infirmity, are so often found wanting in that steadiness, discipline, sobriety and desire to learn, which are such essential qualifications of those who select the healing act as an occupation. The position of the subordinate service has been greatly improved by recent orders, and the prospects of well-behaved, industrious and deserving members are excellent. Ambitious
service,
human
among them may look forward to posts of trust and importance in civil employ if they go home and qualify, as
men
many do, and have gained a good character in the service. "VVe would counsel each member of the service, and more particularly each young member, to look well to his life and conduct, and endeavour in as far as in him lies to remove the general stain that has been incurred. If all did so with a will and firm purno more of dismissals for drunkenness, or pose, we should hear insubordination, of courts-martial, or remarks in general orders damaging to the whole service, which would in a year or two regain its wonted credit for respectability and usefulness.
191
