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ASSISTANT SURGEONS IN THE NAVY.—THE EVIDENCE OF DR. BURROWS AGAIN!
80 are gentlemen, we cannotbut in justice to these gentlemen I should feel much obliged become besotted and lost men. My friend will recollect by your inserting at the same time, from the printed copy herethat anything a man may boast of in blood is compromised, ifwith sent, the course of education they are required to pursue,* his actions are not those which characterize a gentleman. which I can assure you is strictly adhered to.-I remain, your W. BURNETT, M.D. If he will search the articles of war, the Queen’s regulations, obedient servant, Director General, Medical Department Jan. 12th 1848. and the Admiralty instructions, the word "gentleman" is not of the
recommendation is that they
Navy. to be found. In concluding his correspondence, he remarks, who entered the the have Assistant-Surgeons Qualifications of our removal would be "prejudicial to the junior branches of the service;" let me remind him our duty is to treat disease, Royal Navy during the last eight years-viz., from the 1st and not to preside over the morals of youngsters. January 1840 to 31st December 1847 :That every subject should be well discussed and impartially Those possessing surgical diplomas from London, 183; canvassed, is what will be objected to by no dissenting voice; Dublin, 20; Edinburgh, 103. Certificates from London, 28. and if " A Captain, R.N.," will continue his contributions Total number admitted, 334. Those possessing degrees in medicine (as well as surgical against making us ward-room officers, (though I fear his resources are exhausted,) he will do our cause a great service, diplomas) from Edinburgh, 38; Glasgow, 24; Aberdeen, 5. and give us the means of refuting any objections against our Three extra licentiates of London College of Physicians. immediately entering the lieutenants’ mess. It is evident he first breathed the breath of life in those barbarous times when 45, Queen Ann-street, Cavendish-square, Jan. 5th, 1848. reigned ignorance and prejudice. Let me finally advise him, DEAR SIR WILLIAM,— In reply to your last letter I have only if he ever feels disposed to resort to black and white, to have to repeat the assurance I gave you in a former communication, a better cause, to study the literæ humaniores, and to cultivate that when I incidentally alluded to the appointment of assista relish for that which is humane and wholesome in its consummation, and in perfect unison with the opinions of an ant-surgeons in the navy, in the course of my examination before the Registration Committee of the House of Commons, I enlightened British public. The man who can judge correctly and speak impartially, and had no intention of disparaging the medical officers of her who has a keen taste for one or more of those applied sciences Majesty’s Navy, nor of intimating that I thought less highly which form a necessary and essential part of the education of of them than of the medical officers in the other public sera medical man, must know, that if a mind well trained and vices, or of their professional brethren engaged in private tutored be debarred from its native stimulus, it too frequently practice. The only occasion upon which I adverted to the assistanttakes that course which must stir up some unhealthy and vicious elements of discord and disgrace. It is to be hoped surgeons in the navy, was in answer, (442,) wherein I pointed out that there was no just comparison our position will attract the notice of the profession, and that England between barristers and the majority of young men who entered the soon it will be remedied, through the able advocacy of the medical press of Great Britain.-I remain, Sir, your obedient medical profession. I further stated that many of the latter are compelled by their more limited means to commence AN ASSISTANT SURGEON, R.N. servant, practice, or to seek a public appointment at the earliest age November, 1847. allowed by law; and I then mentioned the appointment of assistant-surgeons in the navy as one of those which might be ARMY AND NAVY ASSISTANT SURGEONS. obtained at an early age, and would therefore afford an immeEXTRACT FROM THE EVIDENCE OF SIR WILLIAM BURNETT BEFORE diate independent maintenance. THE NAVAL AND MILITARY COMMISSION. This allusion was made simply in illustration of an arguQUESTION 2574.—In the man-of-war which carried out last ment, and I entirely disclaim any intention of detracting from year troops to Canada, where did the assistant-surgeons of the the high qualifications which, as you inform me, are possessed regiment mess 1-1 suppose in the ward-room. by many of these gentlemen, or of intimating that their pro’ 2575. But the assistant-surgeon of the navy, who is declared fessional attainments were inferior to those of medical officers by the Order in Council to have the same rank, messed with in the other public services; and I gladly avail myself of an the midshipmen ?-Yes; in the cockpit. opportunity of removing any misapprehension or unpleasant 2576. Do you know any reason why the assistant-surgeons feelings upon this subject.-I remain, dear Sir William, yours of the navy should not be allowed to mess in the ward-room? very faithfully, GEO. BURROWS, M.D. To Sir William Burnett, &c. &c. —1am not aware of any. They receive the same education, at the same universities, and are in every respect the same as the assistant-surgeons of the army. BRUTAL TREATMENT OF NAVAL ASSISTANT2587. Supposing he was messed in the ward-room, would SURGEONS. there be means of lodging him in the ward-room ?-Not in To the Editor of TEIE LANCET. the ward-room; but all the officers who mess in the ward-room do not lodge there. SIR,—As an assistant-surgeon of the navy, allow me to 2588. He must still sleep in the cable-tier, if he were to my gratitude for the untiring energy and perseexpress mess in the ward-room ?—It strikes me that other places verance you have ever displayed in advocating our cause, in , the mention of which I speak the sentiments of all the junior might be found for them. medical officers of the navy. The naval authorities are now ASSISTANT SURGEONS IN THE NAVY.—THE perfectly convinced, against their native prejudices, that they have most shamefully and heartlessly maltreated the assistantEVIDENCE OF DR. BURROWS AGAIN! We are, after three years’ service, only surgeons of the LETTER FROM SIR W. BURNETT, M.D. considered eligible to mess with young naval lieutenants, To the Editor of THE LANCET. with whom the oldest naval surgeon ranks " with, but after," attention having been called, by a highly respect- and his widow receives £10 per annum less from government SIR,—My able member of the medical profession, to the evidence of Dr. than does the widow of this executive. Look in any direction Burrows before the Medical Registration Committee of the you please in the naval service-the overbearing and niggardly Honourable House of Commons in the last session of Parlia- bigotry of the executives over the medical officers is plainly ment, which was apparently calculated to cast a severe reflec- to be perceived. tion on the assistant-surgeons of the navy; and being, from my The medical press will, I trust, ever be, as it has been, the knowledge of the character of Dr. Burrows, of opinion that channel where we may make known our grievances in consuch statement could only have been made by him from not fidence : this is our only resource; the executives would deny being acquainted with the extensive nature of the education us this hearing if they knew how. We have solicited from the naval powers that which now those gentlemen are obliged to undergo before they can be received as candidates for the medical department of the navy, we are agitating for-liberal treatment ; all constitutional I consequently wrote to him on the subject, pointing out the appeals have failed, and other means must now be tried. A nature of the error into which he had fallen, and the grievous recent correspondent to THE LANCET adds, that there is just injury such evidence, coming from a physician of his high cha- as much prospect in getting"blood from a stone, as redress racter, was calculated to inflict. In explanation, I had the from thefighting officers’ of H.M. navy." I agree with him. pleasure of receiving the accompanying letter, which I beg Our battle-ground is not with the Admiralty, but in the House you will do me the favour to publish, in order that it may re- of Commons, and with a liberal administration. Our brother move any unpleasant feelings which may exist in the minds of * A great pressure on our space compels us to refer our readers to the the junior members of the medical officers of the navy. inserted in the Students’ Number, (last vol. of THE LANCET, Regulations I am very unwilling further to trespass on your indulgence, p. 353.)
in
..
navy.
recommendation is that they
Navy. to be found. In concluding his correspondence, he remarks, who entered the the have Assistant-Surgeons Qualifications of our removal would be "prejudicial to the junior branches of the service;" let me remind him our duty is to treat disease, Royal Navy during the last eight years-viz., from the 1st and not to preside over the morals of youngsters. January 1840 to 31st December 1847 :That every subject should be well discussed and impartially Those possessing surgical diplomas from London, 183; canvassed, is what will be objected to by no dissenting voice; Dublin, 20; Edinburgh, 103. Certificates from London, 28. and if " A Captain, R.N.," will continue his contributions Total number admitted, 334. Those possessing degrees in medicine (as well as surgical against making us ward-room officers, (though I fear his resources are exhausted,) he will do our cause a great service, diplomas) from Edinburgh, 38; Glasgow, 24; Aberdeen, 5. and give us the means of refuting any objections against our Three extra licentiates of London College of Physicians. immediately entering the lieutenants’ mess. It is evident he first breathed the breath of life in those barbarous times when 45, Queen Ann-street, Cavendish-square, Jan. 5th, 1848. reigned ignorance and prejudice. Let me finally advise him, DEAR SIR WILLIAM,— In reply to your last letter I have only if he ever feels disposed to resort to black and white, to have to repeat the assurance I gave you in a former communication, a better cause, to study the literæ humaniores, and to cultivate that when I incidentally alluded to the appointment of assista relish for that which is humane and wholesome in its consummation, and in perfect unison with the opinions of an ant-surgeons in the navy, in the course of my examination before the Registration Committee of the House of Commons, I enlightened British public. The man who can judge correctly and speak impartially, and had no intention of disparaging the medical officers of her who has a keen taste for one or more of those applied sciences Majesty’s Navy, nor of intimating that I thought less highly which form a necessary and essential part of the education of of them than of the medical officers in the other public sera medical man, must know, that if a mind well trained and vices, or of their professional brethren engaged in private tutored be debarred from its native stimulus, it too frequently practice. The only occasion upon which I adverted to the assistanttakes that course which must stir up some unhealthy and vicious elements of discord and disgrace. It is to be hoped surgeons in the navy, was in answer, (442,) wherein I pointed out that there was no just comparison our position will attract the notice of the profession, and that England between barristers and the majority of young men who entered the soon it will be remedied, through the able advocacy of the medical press of Great Britain.-I remain, Sir, your obedient medical profession. I further stated that many of the latter are compelled by their more limited means to commence AN ASSISTANT SURGEON, R.N. servant, practice, or to seek a public appointment at the earliest age November, 1847. allowed by law; and I then mentioned the appointment of assistant-surgeons in the navy as one of those which might be ARMY AND NAVY ASSISTANT SURGEONS. obtained at an early age, and would therefore afford an immeEXTRACT FROM THE EVIDENCE OF SIR WILLIAM BURNETT BEFORE diate independent maintenance. THE NAVAL AND MILITARY COMMISSION. This allusion was made simply in illustration of an arguQUESTION 2574.—In the man-of-war which carried out last ment, and I entirely disclaim any intention of detracting from year troops to Canada, where did the assistant-surgeons of the the high qualifications which, as you inform me, are possessed regiment mess 1-1 suppose in the ward-room. by many of these gentlemen, or of intimating that their pro’ 2575. But the assistant-surgeon of the navy, who is declared fessional attainments were inferior to those of medical officers by the Order in Council to have the same rank, messed with in the other public services; and I gladly avail myself of an the midshipmen ?-Yes; in the cockpit. opportunity of removing any misapprehension or unpleasant 2576. Do you know any reason why the assistant-surgeons feelings upon this subject.-I remain, dear Sir William, yours of the navy should not be allowed to mess in the ward-room? very faithfully, GEO. BURROWS, M.D. To Sir William Burnett, &c. &c. —1am not aware of any. They receive the same education, at the same universities, and are in every respect the same as the assistant-surgeons of the army. BRUTAL TREATMENT OF NAVAL ASSISTANT2587. Supposing he was messed in the ward-room, would SURGEONS. there be means of lodging him in the ward-room ?-Not in To the Editor of TEIE LANCET. the ward-room; but all the officers who mess in the ward-room do not lodge there. SIR,—As an assistant-surgeon of the navy, allow me to 2588. He must still sleep in the cable-tier, if he were to my gratitude for the untiring energy and perseexpress mess in the ward-room ?—It strikes me that other places verance you have ever displayed in advocating our cause, in , the mention of which I speak the sentiments of all the junior might be found for them. medical officers of the navy. The naval authorities are now ASSISTANT SURGEONS IN THE NAVY.—THE perfectly convinced, against their native prejudices, that they have most shamefully and heartlessly maltreated the assistantEVIDENCE OF DR. BURROWS AGAIN! We are, after three years’ service, only surgeons of the LETTER FROM SIR W. BURNETT, M.D. considered eligible to mess with young naval lieutenants, To the Editor of THE LANCET. with whom the oldest naval surgeon ranks " with, but after," attention having been called, by a highly respect- and his widow receives £10 per annum less from government SIR,—My able member of the medical profession, to the evidence of Dr. than does the widow of this executive. Look in any direction Burrows before the Medical Registration Committee of the you please in the naval service-the overbearing and niggardly Honourable House of Commons in the last session of Parlia- bigotry of the executives over the medical officers is plainly ment, which was apparently calculated to cast a severe reflec- to be perceived. tion on the assistant-surgeons of the navy; and being, from my The medical press will, I trust, ever be, as it has been, the knowledge of the character of Dr. Burrows, of opinion that channel where we may make known our grievances in consuch statement could only have been made by him from not fidence : this is our only resource; the executives would deny being acquainted with the extensive nature of the education us this hearing if they knew how. We have solicited from the naval powers that which now those gentlemen are obliged to undergo before they can be received as candidates for the medical department of the navy, we are agitating for-liberal treatment ; all constitutional I consequently wrote to him on the subject, pointing out the appeals have failed, and other means must now be tried. A nature of the error into which he had fallen, and the grievous recent correspondent to THE LANCET adds, that there is just injury such evidence, coming from a physician of his high cha- as much prospect in getting"blood from a stone, as redress racter, was calculated to inflict. In explanation, I had the from thefighting officers’ of H.M. navy." I agree with him. pleasure of receiving the accompanying letter, which I beg Our battle-ground is not with the Admiralty, but in the House you will do me the favour to publish, in order that it may re- of Commons, and with a liberal administration. Our brother move any unpleasant feelings which may exist in the minds of * A great pressure on our space compels us to refer our readers to the the junior members of the medical officers of the navy. inserted in the Students’ Number, (last vol. of THE LANCET, Regulations I am very unwilling further to trespass on your indulgence, p. 353.)
in
..
navy.