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ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL USES OF THE GANGLIONIC NERVOUS SYSTEM.
42 Boa Vista in 1845-6, by Dr. King, R.N., Inspector of Hospitals military, that the crew should be landed,-the sick to be sent Fleets," and to the parliamentary paper, entitled " Copies of without delay to the military hospital, and the unattacked to be Extracts from Despatches from the Governor of Barbadoes re- encamped out in tents on shore as speedily as arrangements could be made. As long as any portion of the ship’s company remained specting H.M.S. Dauntless," issued last March. H.M. troop-ship Crocodile, having embarked a detachment of on board fresh cases were daily occurring among them, so that and
the 81st
Regiment, consisting of 208 men, thirty women, and forty-seven children, 285 in ail, sailed on the 16th December,
there is good reason to believe that if the entire landing had been effected at once, and without loss of time, many valuable lives 1842, from St. Kitt’s for Barbadoes. The accommodation for would have been saved. the troops on board was, as is too frequently the case, very inIt is earnestly to be hoped that a full account of the fever of sufficient ; they were all crowded together on the lower deck, the Dauntless will speedily be made public, either by the surgeon where the ventilation was exceedingly defective, and due clean- or by Dr. Bryson, to whom the profession has been indebted for liness could not be maintained. No sickness existed on board at so much important information on the diseases of the naval the time of sailing, nor was there any recognised yellow fever in service. The frightful mortality-exceeding, I believe, even St. Kitt’s either then or for some months before. On the 19th, that of the Eclair-gives an unusually painful interest to the only three days afterwards, fever made its appearance among the whole history, and naturally suggests the idea that surely there crew, and every day afterwards fresh cases occurred. One of must have been something very faulty in the sanitary condition these proved fatal before the vessel arrived at Barbadoes. The and arrangements of the ship, or in the protective and defensive exact date of her arrival is not given, but it appears to have been measures adopted, to account for such terrible consequences, The troops were at once landed and occurring, too, be it remembered, in the ’immediate vicinity of on the 22nd or 23rd. marched into barracks. Several of the men sickened on the day several of our own colonies. However this may be, it appears after landing, and were at once sent to the Military Hospital. to be universally acknowledged by every one who interested The ship’s company were encamped on shore, where they re- himself in behalf of the suffering crew, including not only the mained in tents till the 18th of January; the sick were transferred medical officers of both services, but also the governor of the to the Military Hospital. The results of removing the crew island, Sir William Colebrooke, and Captain Halsted, the comfrom ship-board seems to have been promptly satisfactory; for mander of the Dauntless, that the speedy removal of the men on only two fresh cases of fever occurred among them while they shore prevented still more disastrous results, and this, too, without Within forty-eight hours, however, after they the slightest detriment to the health of any on shore. Mr. Denny, were on shore. were re-embarked, it again broke out among them, and in the surgeon of the 34th Regiment, writes thus: "Although sixtyIn conse- one men of the Dauntless have been treated in the wards of course of a week eleven were added to the sick-list. quence of this it was deemed right to send them on shore a second the hospital, indiscriminately intermingled with the soldiers of time, and to have the ship thoroughly fumigated and limewashed. that corps affected with various complaints, in no instance has " Iwas informed," says Dr. King, who arrived at Barbadoes at any individual been attacked under such circumstances, nor has this time, " by Mr. M’Farlane, assistant-surgeon, that a consider- any hospital attendant suffered;" and Captain Halsted, in reo able number of the soldiers were attacked with fever on the day turning his thanks to the governor for the generous kindness after their second debarkation from the Crocodile, of whom seven shown to his crew by the people of Barbadoes, expressly states or eight died at the Military Hospital with the usual symptoms that °° in no single instance, whether in the garrison or in the of yellow fever; and, on inspecting his sick-book, I found that community, has the disease of the Dauntless been communicated there were then fifteen patients on the sick-list, and fourteen in to others." I cannot close this communication without expressing my hospital, suffering from fever, diarrhcea, and dysentery. Eight persons belonging to the ship had died since the commencement admiration of the paper by Dr. Cumming, entitled " The Yellow of the fever, and several of the patients at the hospital were in a Fever in the West Indies," in THE LANCET of May 28. It is precarious, if not a hopeless, condition." replete with pregnant facts, and well deserves the thoughtful In the first week of February the crew, &c., were again re- perusal of all interested in the subject. I would, however, embarked to proceed on their voyage. Again did fever break enter my caveat against the soundness of the practical conclusion out among them; and as it now spread with even greater rapidity in that passage where Dr. Cumming says, " If I thought yellow and virulence than before, it was determined to land the troops a fever the least contagious I should be one of the warmest advothird time, and that the ship should be sent to England with none cates for a quarantine of at least forty days, for no less would but the crew on board. The salutary effects of landing the men suffice." I shall defer the reasons for my demurring to some were strikingly manifest on this as on the former occasions, and future opportunity. May his appeal to his brother officers in the further progress of disease was arrested. the service of the R.M. Steam Company meet with the response It is highly satisfactory to learn that, although there had been which it ought! free communication between the men of the 8lst and other soldiers I have the honour to be, Sir, in the barracks, at the time of their arrival and afterwards, no Your obedient servant, case of fever occurred among the latter, and also that the inhaGAVIN MILROY. Fitzroy-square, June, 1853. bitants of Bridgetown did not suffer in the least, notwithstanding the almost daily intercourse which took place with the sailors, who were encamped a short distance from it. ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL USES OF THE Upon one or two points connected with the history of the GANGLIONIC NERVOUS SYSTEM. Crocodile sickness there is a little difference of statement between To the Editor of THE LANCET. Dr. King’s account and the oral evidence of Dr. Maclean, DeputyTHE LANCET for June 25 is a report of an interesting as recorded at page 323 of the Inspector of Military Hospitals, SIR,In second report on " Quarantine" by the General Board of Health ; paper read by Dr. Davey at the London Medical Society, on the but substantially they agree, and serve to strengthen each other. Primary, Essential, and Independent Function of the Ganglionic Dr. Maclean says-" About thirty soldiers were at the time" System of Nerves, accompanied with some " startling" statements (when the fever cases were admitted-G. M.) "in the hospital. in support of that doctrine. The doctor also remarks upon the The soldiers were cautioned not to mix with the sick sailors, silence upon such a truth observable in our standard works on but no steps were adopted to prevent intercourse. Dr. Hardy physiology, of which he names several. attended the sick sailors, and continued healthy. None of the There is one, however, which he has not named, and of which orderlies in attendance upon the sick sailors and soldiers, except- he is doubtless in ignorance, and of which I have written to him privately; but justice to the dead compels me to name that work ing the soldiers already mentioned, took the disease." Dr. Maclean adds that neither he nor Dr. Birrel regarded this to you, and to beg your insertion of this note in THE LANCET. The work is entitled Rudiments of Physiology, by Dr. Fletcher," exceptional case as one of yellow fever. The case of H.M. steam-frigate Dauntless affords equally published many years since, but establishing on an immutable striking evidence of the salutary effects of promptly landing the basis the function of the great sympathetic nerve. sick from a vessel infected with yellow fever. She arrived at It is beyond my power to speak of that " great" work, though Barbadoes on the 16th of last November, from St. Thomas’, not large, in such a way as to induce the multitude in our prowhen the pestilence, as has been already seen from the cases of fession who know it not to read it; but one day, when a distinct H.M.S. Hig7iflier, and of the mail steamers La Plata and Esk, course of Lectures on the °° Institutes ef Medicine" shall be rewas prevailing at the time with great malignancy among the quired to be delivered in London, then I think it possible, under shipping. Within twenty-one hours after leaving St. Thomas’ the healthy influence of the consideration of such a subject, yellow fever appeared on board the Dauntless, and rapidly proved some indefatigable scientific person may arise, and bring to, most destructive. It was of the most virulent type. Forty-one light truths taught before 1830 by the late Dr. Fletcher, and cases had already occurred, and of these eleven had proved fatal rescue from oblivion the writings of a man whose works need when she reached Barbadoes. It was at once resolved, upon only to be read to be admired and believed. Strange fate, that the recommendation of the medical authorities, both civil and in 1853 a doctrine which I was taught more than twenty years
I
43 never been brought in question-your honourable court Was pleased to grant pensions according to Do, Mr. Editor, let me urge you to get the book, read it, review length of service to them also; but, at the same time, the rules it, and unfold it, and you will get the thanks of the profession for in reference to pensions due to rank attained in the medical unfolding principles which are of the highest importance to suc- service were altered. This alteration, your petitioner humbly cessful practice, and which go with a man as a compass does the begs leave to represent, has injured his prospects materially, and, mariner, to guide him in those cases of difficulty when the unless modified, by your honourable court, must deprive him of the chance of obtaining one or other of the two highest rates of memory of a particular practice may be forgotten. Hoping to receive your approval of the object for which I retiring pension. 2nd. Your honourable court, by your letter, No. 5, of 20th have written to you, I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, September, 1837, gave to your military officers the option of T. L. WALFORD. Reading, July, 1853. choosing to accept pensions regulated by the rank attained, or by the number of years of service completed. But, by your letter, No. 6, dated 4th May, 1842, to the government of India, THE MEDICAL SERVICE OF THE EAST INDIA this gracious option has been allowed only to a small portion of COMPANY. your medical officers ; for in the General Orders issued by the To the Editor of THE LANCET. Hon. the President in Council, dated Fort William, 1st July, 1842, it is ordered as follows-.---" The present regulations by SiR,—The way in which the medical service of the East India which superintending surgeons are entitled, as such, to retiring is deserves at attention, managed particularly Company your of £300 and X365 a year, and members of the Medical pensions New the Charter under discussion. There are being present, Board to of £500 and £700 a year, according to period great abuses in the appointments : incompetent and old men are of servicepensions in those ranks respectively, will cease to be the rule often now sent out; also men who have no proper diplomas, but from the College of Surgeons in London, of the service for medical officers after the date of the introducmerely a certificate of the new arrangement; but individuals then in the service, 11 stating they are competent to practise medicine in the East tion Indies" ! ! ! The Court generally now do not care what sort of and who may be appointed to the offices of superintending surgeon and member of the Medical Board, within ten years men they send out, if they are only quiet and submissive; and for the last ten or twelve years they have been treating the from this date, will be allowed the option of retiring upon penService with much indignity and injustice. Thirty years was the sions upon the old scale of length of service in those ranks, of the new scale of length of service in India." period of service, but by the new rules thirty-eight are demanded, instead 3rd. This grant of ten years of grace, from 16th July, 1842, so that few can expect to enjoy retirement until quite gray and worn out. The cruel injustice, too, of making these new rules to the 16th July, 1852, has not yet expired; but it seems quite now, the remaining period is so short, that your retrospective in their very injurious effect is discreditable beyond. impossible should be included under its influence, and, by being petitioner have Numerous memorials been sent to the Court expression. I enclose you a copy of a short so excluded, he cannot but suffer great injury, the prospects of on the subject of the new rules. retiring from the service he had on entry into it being so greatly to will be from which able see the nature of their inyou one, the two highest pensions have been placed and of the a serious breach contract justice : injustice by Company affected. theThat reach of your memorialist by these new rules will beyond clearly made out. Another official document I will copy, that plain from the fact that there never has been a single you may see the despotism of the Government to the natives as appear well as Europeans. There are about one thousand medical men instance in which a medical officer in the Bombay army has in the Service-a large body; and if you will devote a small served the period of thirty-five and thirty-eight years, - the which these new rules require,-nor is it likely that your space in your valuable journal to the consideration of their periods to do so, as the prospective rate of interests, I shall at a future time be happy to supply you with memorialist shall be able it should be very much slower than the although promotion, more information. believe with much Meanwhile, me, esteem, past, would compel him, together with the limited period of five Yours sincerely, years’ service only allowed in the Medical Board, to leave the A FRIEND. Bombay, May, 1853. service by force before the completion of the shortest even of these two periods. [TRUE COPY.] 4th. That not being aware of the principle on which the period Circular, No. 2541, of 1851. of ten years’ grace was fixed upon, but confiding in the high General Department. To the President and Members of the Medical Board, Bombay. honour, equity, and justice of your honourable court, and bethat your honourable court intended to confer an equal SIRS,-It has come to the knowledge of Government, that, lieving favour on each member of the medical service by the new rules, notwithstanding the prohibition contained in the Government and in no way to deteriorate or depress that service in comnotification of the 30th of September, 1843, public servants are with the military, your memorialist begs most humbly still in the habit of assisting parties to prepare petitions, memo- parison and that all the officers who were then to respectfully and on official The matters. rials, representations Right Hon. in the service, at therepresent time of the promulgation of the new rules, the Governor in Council considers this practice to be particularly were as entitled to the privileges given by the ten years of fully and he it therefore directs that be objectionable, strictly proas those medical officers who have attained to the highest hibited in your department, both as regards European and native grace ranks within that period, and thereby secured to themselves the officers. highest pensions. Further, your memorialist believes that such I have the honour to be, &c., a thing as altering the terms of a soldier’s enlistment to his loss J. J. G. LUNSDEN, and detriment, by the government, has never yet happened. to Government. Secretary For these reasons your memorialist most humbly and respectfully prays that the system of granting pensions which was in force when he entered the service may not be abolished in his To the Honcntrable the Court of Directors of the East India case, but that the period of ten years’ grace, given to his seniors, Company. from the 16th of 1842, be extended so as to include him, The humble Memorial of ALEXANDER BcRN, M.D., and thus continue July, him on the same footing, as regards prospects, Surgeon Bombay Army, with his military and also medical brethren. And your memorialist, as in duty bound, shall ever pray. Humbly showeth,-That on the appointment of your memorialist, in 1829, to your Bombay, Nov. 20, 1850. Bombay medical service, medical officers were esteemed as deserving of equal consideration by your honourable court in all PROPOSED ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL things as officers in the military service, and at that time retiring pensions, regulated by the rank to be attained, existed for the ASSISTANTS. benefit of both services. But, in a letter from your honourable To the Edito2- of THE LANCET. Court to the government of India, No. 5, dated 20th September, 1837, grants of pension for years of service, without reference to SIR,-For some weeks past I have been on the Continent, rank, were most graciously bestowed on your military officers, in and have not had an opportunity of perusing THE LANCET addition to the rules as established in the year 1796: at the same until my return home a few days ago. time this extension was withheld from your medical officers, and The proposal for a " Medical Assistants’ Provident Assowithout any apparent reason; consequently appeals to your ciation" was quite new to me. I hailed it with much pleasure, honourable court were made, and, in reply to these appeals from and most sincerely hope with our efforts, and the assistance your medical officers to be placed on the same footing, in respect of your able journal, to have it fully and substantially realized. to all such favours, as their military brethren-an equality which I will not occupy your valuable columns in portraying the
ago should be as
brought before
the London Medical-
newI
_________
-
Society
until this time had
the 81st
Regiment, consisting of 208 men, thirty women, and forty-seven children, 285 in ail, sailed on the 16th December,
there is good reason to believe that if the entire landing had been effected at once, and without loss of time, many valuable lives 1842, from St. Kitt’s for Barbadoes. The accommodation for would have been saved. the troops on board was, as is too frequently the case, very inIt is earnestly to be hoped that a full account of the fever of sufficient ; they were all crowded together on the lower deck, the Dauntless will speedily be made public, either by the surgeon where the ventilation was exceedingly defective, and due clean- or by Dr. Bryson, to whom the profession has been indebted for liness could not be maintained. No sickness existed on board at so much important information on the diseases of the naval the time of sailing, nor was there any recognised yellow fever in service. The frightful mortality-exceeding, I believe, even St. Kitt’s either then or for some months before. On the 19th, that of the Eclair-gives an unusually painful interest to the only three days afterwards, fever made its appearance among the whole history, and naturally suggests the idea that surely there crew, and every day afterwards fresh cases occurred. One of must have been something very faulty in the sanitary condition these proved fatal before the vessel arrived at Barbadoes. The and arrangements of the ship, or in the protective and defensive exact date of her arrival is not given, but it appears to have been measures adopted, to account for such terrible consequences, The troops were at once landed and occurring, too, be it remembered, in the ’immediate vicinity of on the 22nd or 23rd. marched into barracks. Several of the men sickened on the day several of our own colonies. However this may be, it appears after landing, and were at once sent to the Military Hospital. to be universally acknowledged by every one who interested The ship’s company were encamped on shore, where they re- himself in behalf of the suffering crew, including not only the mained in tents till the 18th of January; the sick were transferred medical officers of both services, but also the governor of the to the Military Hospital. The results of removing the crew island, Sir William Colebrooke, and Captain Halsted, the comfrom ship-board seems to have been promptly satisfactory; for mander of the Dauntless, that the speedy removal of the men on only two fresh cases of fever occurred among them while they shore prevented still more disastrous results, and this, too, without Within forty-eight hours, however, after they the slightest detriment to the health of any on shore. Mr. Denny, were on shore. were re-embarked, it again broke out among them, and in the surgeon of the 34th Regiment, writes thus: "Although sixtyIn conse- one men of the Dauntless have been treated in the wards of course of a week eleven were added to the sick-list. quence of this it was deemed right to send them on shore a second the hospital, indiscriminately intermingled with the soldiers of time, and to have the ship thoroughly fumigated and limewashed. that corps affected with various complaints, in no instance has " Iwas informed," says Dr. King, who arrived at Barbadoes at any individual been attacked under such circumstances, nor has this time, " by Mr. M’Farlane, assistant-surgeon, that a consider- any hospital attendant suffered;" and Captain Halsted, in reo able number of the soldiers were attacked with fever on the day turning his thanks to the governor for the generous kindness after their second debarkation from the Crocodile, of whom seven shown to his crew by the people of Barbadoes, expressly states or eight died at the Military Hospital with the usual symptoms that °° in no single instance, whether in the garrison or in the of yellow fever; and, on inspecting his sick-book, I found that community, has the disease of the Dauntless been communicated there were then fifteen patients on the sick-list, and fourteen in to others." I cannot close this communication without expressing my hospital, suffering from fever, diarrhcea, and dysentery. Eight persons belonging to the ship had died since the commencement admiration of the paper by Dr. Cumming, entitled " The Yellow of the fever, and several of the patients at the hospital were in a Fever in the West Indies," in THE LANCET of May 28. It is precarious, if not a hopeless, condition." replete with pregnant facts, and well deserves the thoughtful In the first week of February the crew, &c., were again re- perusal of all interested in the subject. I would, however, embarked to proceed on their voyage. Again did fever break enter my caveat against the soundness of the practical conclusion out among them; and as it now spread with even greater rapidity in that passage where Dr. Cumming says, " If I thought yellow and virulence than before, it was determined to land the troops a fever the least contagious I should be one of the warmest advothird time, and that the ship should be sent to England with none cates for a quarantine of at least forty days, for no less would but the crew on board. The salutary effects of landing the men suffice." I shall defer the reasons for my demurring to some were strikingly manifest on this as on the former occasions, and future opportunity. May his appeal to his brother officers in the further progress of disease was arrested. the service of the R.M. Steam Company meet with the response It is highly satisfactory to learn that, although there had been which it ought! free communication between the men of the 8lst and other soldiers I have the honour to be, Sir, in the barracks, at the time of their arrival and afterwards, no Your obedient servant, case of fever occurred among the latter, and also that the inhaGAVIN MILROY. Fitzroy-square, June, 1853. bitants of Bridgetown did not suffer in the least, notwithstanding the almost daily intercourse which took place with the sailors, who were encamped a short distance from it. ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL USES OF THE Upon one or two points connected with the history of the GANGLIONIC NERVOUS SYSTEM. Crocodile sickness there is a little difference of statement between To the Editor of THE LANCET. Dr. King’s account and the oral evidence of Dr. Maclean, DeputyTHE LANCET for June 25 is a report of an interesting as recorded at page 323 of the Inspector of Military Hospitals, SIR,In second report on " Quarantine" by the General Board of Health ; paper read by Dr. Davey at the London Medical Society, on the but substantially they agree, and serve to strengthen each other. Primary, Essential, and Independent Function of the Ganglionic Dr. Maclean says-" About thirty soldiers were at the time" System of Nerves, accompanied with some " startling" statements (when the fever cases were admitted-G. M.) "in the hospital. in support of that doctrine. The doctor also remarks upon the The soldiers were cautioned not to mix with the sick sailors, silence upon such a truth observable in our standard works on but no steps were adopted to prevent intercourse. Dr. Hardy physiology, of which he names several. attended the sick sailors, and continued healthy. None of the There is one, however, which he has not named, and of which orderlies in attendance upon the sick sailors and soldiers, except- he is doubtless in ignorance, and of which I have written to him privately; but justice to the dead compels me to name that work ing the soldiers already mentioned, took the disease." Dr. Maclean adds that neither he nor Dr. Birrel regarded this to you, and to beg your insertion of this note in THE LANCET. The work is entitled Rudiments of Physiology, by Dr. Fletcher," exceptional case as one of yellow fever. The case of H.M. steam-frigate Dauntless affords equally published many years since, but establishing on an immutable striking evidence of the salutary effects of promptly landing the basis the function of the great sympathetic nerve. sick from a vessel infected with yellow fever. She arrived at It is beyond my power to speak of that " great" work, though Barbadoes on the 16th of last November, from St. Thomas’, not large, in such a way as to induce the multitude in our prowhen the pestilence, as has been already seen from the cases of fession who know it not to read it; but one day, when a distinct H.M.S. Hig7iflier, and of the mail steamers La Plata and Esk, course of Lectures on the °° Institutes ef Medicine" shall be rewas prevailing at the time with great malignancy among the quired to be delivered in London, then I think it possible, under shipping. Within twenty-one hours after leaving St. Thomas’ the healthy influence of the consideration of such a subject, yellow fever appeared on board the Dauntless, and rapidly proved some indefatigable scientific person may arise, and bring to, most destructive. It was of the most virulent type. Forty-one light truths taught before 1830 by the late Dr. Fletcher, and cases had already occurred, and of these eleven had proved fatal rescue from oblivion the writings of a man whose works need when she reached Barbadoes. It was at once resolved, upon only to be read to be admired and believed. Strange fate, that the recommendation of the medical authorities, both civil and in 1853 a doctrine which I was taught more than twenty years
I
43 never been brought in question-your honourable court Was pleased to grant pensions according to Do, Mr. Editor, let me urge you to get the book, read it, review length of service to them also; but, at the same time, the rules it, and unfold it, and you will get the thanks of the profession for in reference to pensions due to rank attained in the medical unfolding principles which are of the highest importance to suc- service were altered. This alteration, your petitioner humbly cessful practice, and which go with a man as a compass does the begs leave to represent, has injured his prospects materially, and, mariner, to guide him in those cases of difficulty when the unless modified, by your honourable court, must deprive him of the chance of obtaining one or other of the two highest rates of memory of a particular practice may be forgotten. Hoping to receive your approval of the object for which I retiring pension. 2nd. Your honourable court, by your letter, No. 5, of 20th have written to you, I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, September, 1837, gave to your military officers the option of T. L. WALFORD. Reading, July, 1853. choosing to accept pensions regulated by the rank attained, or by the number of years of service completed. But, by your letter, No. 6, dated 4th May, 1842, to the government of India, THE MEDICAL SERVICE OF THE EAST INDIA this gracious option has been allowed only to a small portion of COMPANY. your medical officers ; for in the General Orders issued by the To the Editor of THE LANCET. Hon. the President in Council, dated Fort William, 1st July, 1842, it is ordered as follows-.---" The present regulations by SiR,—The way in which the medical service of the East India which superintending surgeons are entitled, as such, to retiring is deserves at attention, managed particularly Company your of £300 and X365 a year, and members of the Medical pensions New the Charter under discussion. There are being present, Board to of £500 and £700 a year, according to period great abuses in the appointments : incompetent and old men are of servicepensions in those ranks respectively, will cease to be the rule often now sent out; also men who have no proper diplomas, but from the College of Surgeons in London, of the service for medical officers after the date of the introducmerely a certificate of the new arrangement; but individuals then in the service, 11 stating they are competent to practise medicine in the East tion Indies" ! ! ! The Court generally now do not care what sort of and who may be appointed to the offices of superintending surgeon and member of the Medical Board, within ten years men they send out, if they are only quiet and submissive; and for the last ten or twelve years they have been treating the from this date, will be allowed the option of retiring upon penService with much indignity and injustice. Thirty years was the sions upon the old scale of length of service in those ranks, of the new scale of length of service in India." period of service, but by the new rules thirty-eight are demanded, instead 3rd. This grant of ten years of grace, from 16th July, 1842, so that few can expect to enjoy retirement until quite gray and worn out. The cruel injustice, too, of making these new rules to the 16th July, 1852, has not yet expired; but it seems quite now, the remaining period is so short, that your retrospective in their very injurious effect is discreditable beyond. impossible should be included under its influence, and, by being petitioner have Numerous memorials been sent to the Court expression. I enclose you a copy of a short so excluded, he cannot but suffer great injury, the prospects of on the subject of the new rules. retiring from the service he had on entry into it being so greatly to will be from which able see the nature of their inyou one, the two highest pensions have been placed and of the a serious breach contract justice : injustice by Company affected. theThat reach of your memorialist by these new rules will beyond clearly made out. Another official document I will copy, that plain from the fact that there never has been a single you may see the despotism of the Government to the natives as appear well as Europeans. There are about one thousand medical men instance in which a medical officer in the Bombay army has in the Service-a large body; and if you will devote a small served the period of thirty-five and thirty-eight years, - the which these new rules require,-nor is it likely that your space in your valuable journal to the consideration of their periods to do so, as the prospective rate of interests, I shall at a future time be happy to supply you with memorialist shall be able it should be very much slower than the although promotion, more information. believe with much Meanwhile, me, esteem, past, would compel him, together with the limited period of five Yours sincerely, years’ service only allowed in the Medical Board, to leave the A FRIEND. Bombay, May, 1853. service by force before the completion of the shortest even of these two periods. [TRUE COPY.] 4th. That not being aware of the principle on which the period Circular, No. 2541, of 1851. of ten years’ grace was fixed upon, but confiding in the high General Department. To the President and Members of the Medical Board, Bombay. honour, equity, and justice of your honourable court, and bethat your honourable court intended to confer an equal SIRS,-It has come to the knowledge of Government, that, lieving favour on each member of the medical service by the new rules, notwithstanding the prohibition contained in the Government and in no way to deteriorate or depress that service in comnotification of the 30th of September, 1843, public servants are with the military, your memorialist begs most humbly still in the habit of assisting parties to prepare petitions, memo- parison and that all the officers who were then to respectfully and on official The matters. rials, representations Right Hon. in the service, at therepresent time of the promulgation of the new rules, the Governor in Council considers this practice to be particularly were as entitled to the privileges given by the ten years of fully and he it therefore directs that be objectionable, strictly proas those medical officers who have attained to the highest hibited in your department, both as regards European and native grace ranks within that period, and thereby secured to themselves the officers. highest pensions. Further, your memorialist believes that such I have the honour to be, &c., a thing as altering the terms of a soldier’s enlistment to his loss J. J. G. LUNSDEN, and detriment, by the government, has never yet happened. to Government. Secretary For these reasons your memorialist most humbly and respectfully prays that the system of granting pensions which was in force when he entered the service may not be abolished in his To the Honcntrable the Court of Directors of the East India case, but that the period of ten years’ grace, given to his seniors, Company. from the 16th of 1842, be extended so as to include him, The humble Memorial of ALEXANDER BcRN, M.D., and thus continue July, him on the same footing, as regards prospects, Surgeon Bombay Army, with his military and also medical brethren. And your memorialist, as in duty bound, shall ever pray. Humbly showeth,-That on the appointment of your memorialist, in 1829, to your Bombay, Nov. 20, 1850. Bombay medical service, medical officers were esteemed as deserving of equal consideration by your honourable court in all PROPOSED ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL things as officers in the military service, and at that time retiring pensions, regulated by the rank to be attained, existed for the ASSISTANTS. benefit of both services. But, in a letter from your honourable To the Edito2- of THE LANCET. Court to the government of India, No. 5, dated 20th September, 1837, grants of pension for years of service, without reference to SIR,-For some weeks past I have been on the Continent, rank, were most graciously bestowed on your military officers, in and have not had an opportunity of perusing THE LANCET addition to the rules as established in the year 1796: at the same until my return home a few days ago. time this extension was withheld from your medical officers, and The proposal for a " Medical Assistants’ Provident Assowithout any apparent reason; consequently appeals to your ciation" was quite new to me. I hailed it with much pleasure, honourable court were made, and, in reply to these appeals from and most sincerely hope with our efforts, and the assistance your medical officers to be placed on the same footing, in respect of your able journal, to have it fully and substantially realized. to all such favours, as their military brethren-an equality which I will not occupy your valuable columns in portraying the
ago should be as
brought before
the London Medical-
newI
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Society
until this time had