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NETLEY APPOINTMENTS.
68
equal to the paltry salary thus jealousl; times told. To the Editor of THE LANCET. There is a saying in the Department that its wors enemies are to be found within its ranks. The truth o to remarks on the above I ask SIR,—Apropos your subject, this confession was never better illustrates permission to make a few observations on the communica- than humiliating in the pitiful whinings of the writer under notice tions which gave rise to them, and which, if left without He has indeed shot his 11 arrows" over his house," bu notice, might mislead others as well as yourself. they are too pointless to hurt even his "friends." I am, Sir, your obedient servant, There is one error which appears to me to underlie nearly L. July 5th, 1869. all others in this matter-viz., that the Army Medical School exists for the purpose of providing appointments" for THE PROPOSED TESTIMONIAL TO MR. SYME. army medical officers. Now nothing of the kind was conTo the Editor of THE LANCET. templated by those who established it. This is well seen in SIR,-I am glad to see that the subject of a testimonial the fact that out of the four Professors originally appointed, only one belonged to the British Army. Two were to Mr. Syme has been ventilated in your columns, because taken from civil life, and one from the army of India. The I am confirmed in the view that the proposal which I have determination from the first was to obtain the services of long intended to make will meet with cordial support. the fittest men, and the question of narrowing the selection My proposal is to raise a testimonial which shall have a twofold object-viz.: lst, to place a marble bust of Mr. was not entertained for a moment. in the hall of the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Inasmuch as the assistants to the Professors have certain Syme or in the University Library, as may hereafter be deterduties to perform which can only be performed by medical to found a Fellowship in Surgery in the officers of the British Army, the selection was restricted to mined ; and, 2nd, to be called ,The Syme Surgical University, the departmental list. But, as in the case of the Professors, Edinburgh Fellowship." fitness for the special duties required was the only other For these objects a sum of not less than 2500 will be consideration that governed the selection of officers for the that there will be much but I do not required, posts in question. Three out of four of those first ap- difficulty in raising this apprehend sum among the many old pupils of pointed had passed through the course of special instruc- Mr. Syme scattered over the whole world. tion in the school, and in this way their qualifications beA meeting will shortly be called in London to organise came known to the Senate, on whose recommendation they measures for carrying out the above objects, or such others The writer in were appointed by the Secretary for War. as be agreed on; and in the meantime I shall be happy the Broad Arrow so expresses himself as to lead his readers to may receive promises of subscriptions, as well as the names to believe that all the assistants to the Professors were reof gentlemen desirous of serving on the Syme Testimonial appointed at the end of their first term of office. Now this Committee. is a mistake. One was obliged to retire on account of illI am, Sir, your obedient servant, health ; another resigned ; so that in point of fact two only C. MURCHISON, M.D., F.R.S., were reappointed- a measure within the power of the ’, formerly one of Mr. Syme’s Syme’s house-surgeons. house-surgeons. formerly of to recommend in and of Senate cases the Wimpole-street, London, W., June 22nd, 1869. special fitness, Secretary of State to sanction according to the organisation of the school. The vacancies were filled by the appointment of an officer of tried experience and distinction, who DIRECT REPRESENTATION OF THE PROhad been promoted and decorated for distinguished service FESSION IN THE MEDICAL COUNCIL. in the field, and for special excellence in that branch of the To the Editor of THE LANCET. specialties of military medical duty he was required to assist in teaching at Netley ; and by a young medical officer SIB,—The Lord President of the Privy Council has conwho entered the army in the first instance through the sented to receive, at the Privy Council Office, on Monday Army Medical School, where he greatly distinguished him- next, the 12th inst., at 3 P.M., a deputation from the Comself in every branch of study there taught, and more partiof the British Medical Association, appointed at the cularly in the one to which he now devotes himself as a mittee The selection of such men is in itself a sufficient annual meeting held at Oxford, in August, 1868, in order teacher. obtain direct representation of the profession in the reply to the insinuations thrown out against those who are to General Medical Council. responsible for the recommendations they make. The Committee will be glad of the support of such memWith regard to the reappointment of the two assistants, it is only necessary to add that one of them is, by universal bers of the profession as can make it convenient to attend. consent, the destined successor of the present eminent Pro- The Committee will assemble at the residence of Dr. Sibson fessor of Hygiene, at, all hope, a yet distant day, and, next 59, Brook-street, at one o’clock on that day, and Dr. Sibto that distinguished man, the highest authority on mili- son will be happy to receive all supporters of the deputation. I am. Sir. vour obedient servant. tary hygiene in this kingdom. It may suit the purpose of EDWARD WATERS, such writers as air their crude and hazy notions on the suband Convener of the Committee. ject of military medical education in the pages of the Broad licholas-street, Chester, JulyChairman 7th, 1869. Arrow, to discard a teacher of such eminence and proved on the chance of as Dr. De Chaumont, ability desperate finding his equal among the unknown ; but those who are THE MANAGERS OF THE ROYAL INFIRMARY responsible to the authorities, to the army, and to the pubAND MR. LAWRIE. lic, take a different view of their duty in this matter; and To the Editor of THE LANCET. the reasons which governed a like decision in the case of the other assistant were the same in kind. SIR,—With. reference to Mr. Spence’s " statement" in THE In conclusion, I must advert for a moment to one other LANCET of last Saturday, I hope you will allow me to repoint. For five years the gentlemen whose reappointment with the exception of a slight mistake as rethat has stirred the bile of the writer in the Broad Arrow, per- mark, formed their extra duties without one farthing of extra pay, gards the strength of the oil used to dress the wound, for in this particular differing from all military officers em- which I beg to express my regret, everything that I asserted ployed in any of the educational establishments under in my letter of June 19th was strictly in accordance with Government. On the recommendation of the Senate, the fact. I may add that one of my brother house-surgeons would Treasury allowed the small addition of .8100 a year to their pay during their second tenure of office. It will scarcely be! gladly substantiate the accuracy of my former statements, credited that the author of the grumbling communications through the medium of your columns, did he feel sure that in the Broad Arrow sees no necessity for this small boon; he would not be subjected to the same treatment which I the Managers of the although, if he had taken the trouble to inquire, he migh1; have experienced at the hands ofobedient I am, Sir, your servant, have ascertained that the scientific labours and investiga- Roval Infirmarv. EDWARD LAWRIE. tions of one of the assistant professors represent, in money’ NETLEY APPOINTMENTS.
worth,
a
sum
grudged three
"
-----
"
---
,
’
equal to the paltry salary thus jealousl; times told. To the Editor of THE LANCET. There is a saying in the Department that its wors enemies are to be found within its ranks. The truth o to remarks on the above I ask SIR,—Apropos your subject, this confession was never better illustrates permission to make a few observations on the communica- than humiliating in the pitiful whinings of the writer under notice tions which gave rise to them, and which, if left without He has indeed shot his 11 arrows" over his house," bu notice, might mislead others as well as yourself. they are too pointless to hurt even his "friends." I am, Sir, your obedient servant, There is one error which appears to me to underlie nearly L. July 5th, 1869. all others in this matter-viz., that the Army Medical School exists for the purpose of providing appointments" for THE PROPOSED TESTIMONIAL TO MR. SYME. army medical officers. Now nothing of the kind was conTo the Editor of THE LANCET. templated by those who established it. This is well seen in SIR,-I am glad to see that the subject of a testimonial the fact that out of the four Professors originally appointed, only one belonged to the British Army. Two were to Mr. Syme has been ventilated in your columns, because taken from civil life, and one from the army of India. The I am confirmed in the view that the proposal which I have determination from the first was to obtain the services of long intended to make will meet with cordial support. the fittest men, and the question of narrowing the selection My proposal is to raise a testimonial which shall have a twofold object-viz.: lst, to place a marble bust of Mr. was not entertained for a moment. in the hall of the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Inasmuch as the assistants to the Professors have certain Syme or in the University Library, as may hereafter be deterduties to perform which can only be performed by medical to found a Fellowship in Surgery in the officers of the British Army, the selection was restricted to mined ; and, 2nd, to be called ,The Syme Surgical University, the departmental list. But, as in the case of the Professors, Edinburgh Fellowship." fitness for the special duties required was the only other For these objects a sum of not less than 2500 will be consideration that governed the selection of officers for the that there will be much but I do not required, posts in question. Three out of four of those first ap- difficulty in raising this apprehend sum among the many old pupils of pointed had passed through the course of special instruc- Mr. Syme scattered over the whole world. tion in the school, and in this way their qualifications beA meeting will shortly be called in London to organise came known to the Senate, on whose recommendation they measures for carrying out the above objects, or such others The writer in were appointed by the Secretary for War. as be agreed on; and in the meantime I shall be happy the Broad Arrow so expresses himself as to lead his readers to may receive promises of subscriptions, as well as the names to believe that all the assistants to the Professors were reof gentlemen desirous of serving on the Syme Testimonial appointed at the end of their first term of office. Now this Committee. is a mistake. One was obliged to retire on account of illI am, Sir, your obedient servant, health ; another resigned ; so that in point of fact two only C. MURCHISON, M.D., F.R.S., were reappointed- a measure within the power of the ’, formerly one of Mr. Syme’s Syme’s house-surgeons. house-surgeons. formerly of to recommend in and of Senate cases the Wimpole-street, London, W., June 22nd, 1869. special fitness, Secretary of State to sanction according to the organisation of the school. The vacancies were filled by the appointment of an officer of tried experience and distinction, who DIRECT REPRESENTATION OF THE PROhad been promoted and decorated for distinguished service FESSION IN THE MEDICAL COUNCIL. in the field, and for special excellence in that branch of the To the Editor of THE LANCET. specialties of military medical duty he was required to assist in teaching at Netley ; and by a young medical officer SIB,—The Lord President of the Privy Council has conwho entered the army in the first instance through the sented to receive, at the Privy Council Office, on Monday Army Medical School, where he greatly distinguished him- next, the 12th inst., at 3 P.M., a deputation from the Comself in every branch of study there taught, and more partiof the British Medical Association, appointed at the cularly in the one to which he now devotes himself as a mittee The selection of such men is in itself a sufficient annual meeting held at Oxford, in August, 1868, in order teacher. obtain direct representation of the profession in the reply to the insinuations thrown out against those who are to General Medical Council. responsible for the recommendations they make. The Committee will be glad of the support of such memWith regard to the reappointment of the two assistants, it is only necessary to add that one of them is, by universal bers of the profession as can make it convenient to attend. consent, the destined successor of the present eminent Pro- The Committee will assemble at the residence of Dr. Sibson fessor of Hygiene, at, all hope, a yet distant day, and, next 59, Brook-street, at one o’clock on that day, and Dr. Sibto that distinguished man, the highest authority on mili- son will be happy to receive all supporters of the deputation. I am. Sir. vour obedient servant. tary hygiene in this kingdom. It may suit the purpose of EDWARD WATERS, such writers as air their crude and hazy notions on the suband Convener of the Committee. ject of military medical education in the pages of the Broad licholas-street, Chester, JulyChairman 7th, 1869. Arrow, to discard a teacher of such eminence and proved on the chance of as Dr. De Chaumont, ability desperate finding his equal among the unknown ; but those who are THE MANAGERS OF THE ROYAL INFIRMARY responsible to the authorities, to the army, and to the pubAND MR. LAWRIE. lic, take a different view of their duty in this matter; and To the Editor of THE LANCET. the reasons which governed a like decision in the case of the other assistant were the same in kind. SIR,—With. reference to Mr. Spence’s " statement" in THE In conclusion, I must advert for a moment to one other LANCET of last Saturday, I hope you will allow me to repoint. For five years the gentlemen whose reappointment with the exception of a slight mistake as rethat has stirred the bile of the writer in the Broad Arrow, per- mark, formed their extra duties without one farthing of extra pay, gards the strength of the oil used to dress the wound, for in this particular differing from all military officers em- which I beg to express my regret, everything that I asserted ployed in any of the educational establishments under in my letter of June 19th was strictly in accordance with Government. On the recommendation of the Senate, the fact. I may add that one of my brother house-surgeons would Treasury allowed the small addition of .8100 a year to their pay during their second tenure of office. It will scarcely be! gladly substantiate the accuracy of my former statements, credited that the author of the grumbling communications through the medium of your columns, did he feel sure that in the Broad Arrow sees no necessity for this small boon; he would not be subjected to the same treatment which I the Managers of the although, if he had taken the trouble to inquire, he migh1; have experienced at the hands ofobedient I am, Sir, your servant, have ascertained that the scientific labours and investiga- Roval Infirmarv. EDWARD LAWRIE. tions of one of the assistant professors represent, in money’ NETLEY APPOINTMENTS.
worth,
a
sum
grudged three
"
-----
"
---
,
’