SURGICAL TRAINING FOR MILITARY SURGEONS. While admitting that there was much truth
and also
some exaggeration in Professor Ogston's criticism of the Services, we pointed out, in our last issue, that not only are there many capable and experienced men in all branches of the Service, as proved by the result obtained in the Tirali and Egyptian Campaigns, but that
the civil side of the Indian Medical Department possessed attraction for those who wished for an Indian career and afforded opportunities to medical officers of keeping up their also
surgical
work fully abreast of the times.
It is true that in the purely military service there must be men who, posted at small upr
country stations, have little enough of professional
work,
perfectly zeal and
and in such
sensible of
a
knowledge
cases
the
gradual
; his
man
loss of
days
are
himself is
professional occupied in
other ways than by medical work. If he is a sportsman he makes the most of the oppor^ tunities afforded him in that line; if he is not, he takes up other pursuits and amusements. number of years employed in such a little to stimulate him professionwith fashion ally, he frequently becomes less, interested in After
a
purely
medical studies and is
apt
to be inclined
to avoid rather than to seek for the exercise of
abilities.
This is true more certain branches of his particularly profession, and he may be often glad to hand over the charge of a serious case, which may have suddenly been placed under hijn, to the his
professional as
regards
who have not grown rusty in their professional work. lost confiHaving dence in himself he does not wish his patient to suffer, and may even state his case in this manner care
of others
to his pose is
patient.
Sometimes his honesty of pur-* and he may be thought
misunderstood,
to be idle
or
responsibility.
at all events
anxious
to
It is difficult to blame
avoid a
man
under such circumstances as these; it should be the endeavour of the authorities to mitigate as far as possible the circumstances which tend about such a result. to
bring
Without practical work it is impossible for enthusiastic in his any man, however profession, to keep himself up to the mark th ?
reading
Nov
1899
DISTRICT MEDICAL HISTORIES.
]
medical works and perusal of the leading medical journals will do much, but it It is hardly to be cannot replace practice. that a medical officer should be able standard
expected
at
a
notice to perform a difficult had an operation, when he never has the than more simplest of doing
moment's
surgical
opportunity
kind of surgery. So far, the only remedy that has been suggested is " study leave, but even this does not make matters much better; it is again all theory, instead of real performance. not others, however skilful, does much the surgical craving, and although
Simply seeing satisfy
may be learnt by watching a really good surgeon, yet it does not give to the spectatoi
surgical
skill in
manipulation.
The memory
refreshed, and new facts maybe learnt, but the essential thing wanted is not obtained. Would it not be possible to make arrangements for medical officers, both in India and in England, is
to work
in
hospitals and have a share Under the guidance of the officer in
at civil
operations ? charge of
a
civil
hospital, military medical
officers should be allowed to assist and perform operations. We venture to think that in India, in at all events, there would be no difficulty medical the believe we forming a scheme, and to staffs of the larger hospitals would be glad give every assistance in their power, and would endeavour to work harmoniously with officers
this allowed these advantages. If theii lose not would were done, military officers and could not be interest in who
were
surgical work,
a
reproached for not having ever performed would be capital operation; every opportunity
the dead the pait and living body. A little trouble such some of the authorities would enable satisfied feel scheme to be set on foot, and we
afforded them of
operating both
that it could be made
smoothly.
to
on
on
work satisfactorily and
413
and also
some exaggeration in Professor Ogston's criticism of the Services, we pointed out, in our last issue, that not only are there many capable and experienced men in all branches of the Service, as proved by the result obtained in the Tirali and Egyptian Campaigns, but that
the civil side of the Indian Medical Department possessed attraction for those who wished for an Indian career and afforded opportunities to medical officers of keeping up their also
surgical
work fully abreast of the times.
It is true that in the purely military service there must be men who, posted at small upr
country stations, have little enough of professional
work,
perfectly zeal and
and in such
sensible of
a
knowledge
cases
the
gradual
; his
man
loss of
days
are
himself is
professional occupied in
other ways than by medical work. If he is a sportsman he makes the most of the oppor^ tunities afforded him in that line; if he is not, he takes up other pursuits and amusements. number of years employed in such a little to stimulate him professionwith fashion ally, he frequently becomes less, interested in After
a
purely
medical studies and is
apt
to be inclined
to avoid rather than to seek for the exercise of
abilities.
This is true more certain branches of his particularly profession, and he may be often glad to hand over the charge of a serious case, which may have suddenly been placed under hijn, to the his
professional as
regards
who have not grown rusty in their professional work. lost confiHaving dence in himself he does not wish his patient to suffer, and may even state his case in this manner care
of others
to his pose is
patient.
Sometimes his honesty of pur-* and he may be thought
misunderstood,
to be idle
or
responsibility.
at all events
anxious
to
It is difficult to blame
avoid a
man
under such circumstances as these; it should be the endeavour of the authorities to mitigate as far as possible the circumstances which tend about such a result. to
bring
Without practical work it is impossible for enthusiastic in his any man, however profession, to keep himself up to the mark th ?
reading
Nov
1899
DISTRICT MEDICAL HISTORIES.
]
medical works and perusal of the leading medical journals will do much, but it It is hardly to be cannot replace practice. that a medical officer should be able standard
expected
at
a
notice to perform a difficult had an operation, when he never has the than more simplest of doing
moment's
surgical
opportunity
kind of surgery. So far, the only remedy that has been suggested is " study leave, but even this does not make matters much better; it is again all theory, instead of real performance. not others, however skilful, does much the surgical craving, and although
Simply seeing satisfy
may be learnt by watching a really good surgeon, yet it does not give to the spectatoi
surgical
skill in
manipulation.
The memory
refreshed, and new facts maybe learnt, but the essential thing wanted is not obtained. Would it not be possible to make arrangements for medical officers, both in India and in England, is
to work
in
hospitals and have a share Under the guidance of the officer in
at civil
operations ? charge of
a
civil
hospital, military medical
officers should be allowed to assist and perform operations. We venture to think that in India, in at all events, there would be no difficulty medical the believe we forming a scheme, and to staffs of the larger hospitals would be glad give every assistance in their power, and would endeavour to work harmoniously with officers
this allowed these advantages. If theii lose not would were done, military officers and could not be interest in who
were
surgical work,
a
reproached for not having ever performed would be capital operation; every opportunity
the dead the pait and living body. A little trouble such some of the authorities would enable satisfied feel scheme to be set on foot, and we
afforded them of
operating both
that it could be made
smoothly.
to
on
on
work satisfactorily and
413
