CIVIL SURGEONS AND CHARITABLE DISPENSARIES. recent letter of the
Punjab Correspondent Surgeon," which we print The on another page, open up a subject of immense importance. first question which occurs to one in reading these communications is, are these things true ? We cannot believe that they are universally true, nor can we deny that there is some truth? much truth?in them. There are many charitable dispensaries? we hope they are the majority?in which the sick, out-door as well as in-door, are examined and treated with care, and to which the Civil Surgeon devotes as much time and attention as he ought; but there are undoubtedly others in which the duties, more particularly the out-door duties, are performed in a most perfunctory manner, such as to justify the very strong remarks of " Surgeon." The defects of out-paiient practice pointed out so forcibly are not peculiar to India. Not long ago the subject attracted attention in London, and the Lancet discovered in
The extract from
of
the
Pioneer,
a
and the letter of
"
hospital that out-patients were "worked off" at the rate or 80, or 100 an hour, and were treated somewhat promiscuously with a fuw stock mixtures contained in two or three large brown jars. The existence of abuses in London does not, of course, justify similar abuses in India; but it is well to recognise
one
of 60,
the fact that difficulties of this kind
are
apt
to occur
all
over
the world.
The treatment of the sick demands, in addition to
interest and
skill,
disposed
of in
and when crowds of
time ;
short
comparatively study of cases exercised,
sary for
and efficient practice.
intelligent
applicants
there
time,
little of that careful
a
can
which is
We
are
be very
so
neces-
disposed to lay so much stress as our correspondent does on bazar medicines. If they are properly and judiciously employed they are very serviceable. Though the existence of abuses, such as these, reflects great discredit on the executive, we cannot but think that the officers who inspect dispensaries should detect and set them right; else what is the use of inspectors and inspections.
are
not
But it may be contended that the system is wrong, ' " " Bengali Baboo or Hospital Assistant" is left too
that the
much to himself, that
occasionally too much is expected of him, and that the Superintendent is so burdened with other duties, professional or unprofessional, that he cannot superintend his dispensaries as he ought to do. Now, there can be no
doubt that there
is much truth in these assertions.
conversion of doctors into
jailors
seems
to
us
a
most
The
absurd
and preposterous arrangement, and the irksome detail and worry a jail do, as a matter of fact, divert the attention of
of
Civil
Surgeons
from their
wonder how Government officers this kind of
duty,
more ever
and
professional duties. We impose upon medical often marvel 1)5w contentedly
proper
consented to we
medical officers occupy a position which we cannot but consider beneath what is due to their profession and education. Ilealing the sick is if
undoubtedly
the
other secondary duties,
primary duty of medical men, and fortiori duties foreign to their
a
training and calling, interfere with this essential duty, they ought certainly to be relieved of them. Admitting, then, that the it treatment of patients ill charitable dispensaries is not what ought to be, and allowing that this is to a great extent due to tho. employment of medical officers as jailors, the first remedy would all but appear to be the exemption of medical officers from medical jail duties ; and careful inspection and close control on the part of administrative medical officers should do the rest.
Punjab Correspondent Surgeon," which we print The on another page, open up a subject of immense importance. first question which occurs to one in reading these communications is, are these things true ? We cannot believe that they are universally true, nor can we deny that there is some truth? much truth?in them. There are many charitable dispensaries? we hope they are the majority?in which the sick, out-door as well as in-door, are examined and treated with care, and to which the Civil Surgeon devotes as much time and attention as he ought; but there are undoubtedly others in which the duties, more particularly the out-door duties, are performed in a most perfunctory manner, such as to justify the very strong remarks of " Surgeon." The defects of out-paiient practice pointed out so forcibly are not peculiar to India. Not long ago the subject attracted attention in London, and the Lancet discovered in
The extract from
of
the
Pioneer,
a
and the letter of
"
hospital that out-patients were "worked off" at the rate or 80, or 100 an hour, and were treated somewhat promiscuously with a fuw stock mixtures contained in two or three large brown jars. The existence of abuses in London does not, of course, justify similar abuses in India; but it is well to recognise
one
of 60,
the fact that difficulties of this kind
are
apt
to occur
all
over
the world.
The treatment of the sick demands, in addition to
interest and
skill,
disposed
of in
and when crowds of
time ;
short
comparatively study of cases exercised,
sary for
and efficient practice.
intelligent
applicants
there
time,
little of that careful
a
can
which is
We
are
be very
so
neces-
disposed to lay so much stress as our correspondent does on bazar medicines. If they are properly and judiciously employed they are very serviceable. Though the existence of abuses, such as these, reflects great discredit on the executive, we cannot but think that the officers who inspect dispensaries should detect and set them right; else what is the use of inspectors and inspections.
are
not
But it may be contended that the system is wrong, ' " " Bengali Baboo or Hospital Assistant" is left too
that the
much to himself, that
occasionally too much is expected of him, and that the Superintendent is so burdened with other duties, professional or unprofessional, that he cannot superintend his dispensaries as he ought to do. Now, there can be no
doubt that there
is much truth in these assertions.
conversion of doctors into
jailors
seems
to
us
a
most
The
absurd
and preposterous arrangement, and the irksome detail and worry a jail do, as a matter of fact, divert the attention of
of
Civil
Surgeons
from their
wonder how Government officers this kind of
duty,
more ever
and
professional duties. We impose upon medical often marvel 1)5w contentedly
proper
consented to we
medical officers occupy a position which we cannot but consider beneath what is due to their profession and education. Ilealing the sick is if
undoubtedly
the
other secondary duties,
primary duty of medical men, and fortiori duties foreign to their
a
training and calling, interfere with this essential duty, they ought certainly to be relieved of them. Admitting, then, that the it treatment of patients ill charitable dispensaries is not what ought to be, and allowing that this is to a great extent due to tho. employment of medical officers as jailors, the first remedy would all but appear to be the exemption of medical officers from medical jail duties ; and careful inspection and close control on the part of administrative medical officers should do the rest.
