ADVANCEMENT OF MEDICAL OFFICERS.
THE appeal of our respected correspondent Dr. John Davy, for a better recognition of services performed by Medical Officers of the Army, is so reasonable that it can scarcely fail of effect. The story of the present war is full of evidences that the surgeons at- tached to the forces carry with them not only an amount of cul- tivated science such as few combatant officers possess, but also an equal share of courage and devotion. In short, they are English- men, not possessing the right to combat, but possessing their full allowance of bravery and generous feeling. We believe that not an instance has happenedto call forth the gallantry and firmness of the soldier, without displaying the qualities of the medical of- ficers. The terrible attack on the Redan was followed by an amount of suffering and danger to the flying soldiers which af- forded the occasion for showing the contempt of fatigue and danger that animates the medical man at his duty. The great explosion on the 15th November was a still more striking ex- ample. The danger was thought to be so great, that the other officers and men of the regiments were removed three-quarters of a mile off; but all the surgeons of the nearest division remained at their posts, affording aid to the wounded, both English and French, and assisted in the removal of those who could be carried from the spot.
There have been opportunities, too, for the surgeons to take their share in the actual dangers of the field. The combatant officers are in the habit of showing a peculiar care for the life and safety of non-combatants ; a delicacy of feeling which is easily understood and highly commendable ; but in the case of the medical officers who are strictly officers of the force and are accustomed to exposure, the delicacy wears off, while the habit of ignoring the activity, and hardihood of the surgeon remains. It appears to be a systematic rule to take no notice of services which the medical officers may perform over and above the routine of their commission. Our forces are punished for this injustice. We have already mentioned how rarely it is that medical men who attain to high practice select the army for their appren- ticeship ; although military service ought to be sought as the very best hospital that a medical student can " walk." Actual warfare has called attention to many defects in our system, but to none more conspicuously than to this. The claims of the Assist- ant-Surgeons have been passed over by the War Ministry, upon the plea that a part could not speak for the class. The Medical Officers, therefore, are necessarily referred to the House of Com- mons ; and we cannot suppose that claims so distinct and so moderate as those which have been advanced will be passed over in the assembly which at once controls finance and government.
Previous page
