THE EDUCATIONAL FUNCTION OP THE INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICE. From the earliest

pation

period

of the British

occu-

of India until now, the medical officers

who have served the

Company

and the

Queen

in this country have not coutented themselves 3

THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.

10

with

a

bare

performance

they have higher aims,

and have

faithfully striven to fulfil its departments has drawn

able and enthusiastic votaries from the ranks of the Indian Medical difficult

inquiry

to

mention

in India in which

have not taken

men

Service, aud any subject

regards subjects

a

one or

it would be of scientific

more

which fall

more

strictly

the definition of medical science?the cause

of

disease,

and habits

ings

medical

distinguished part.

As

under

nature

and

the influence of man's surroundon

his health and

life,

the medi-

of the country and so-forth? the workers have been many, and the labours cinal

resources

of the many have resulted in a large aud still growing body of information, the value of which it is

impossible

to overrate.

But there is another aspect in which the history of the Indian Medical Service presents a very bright page, namely, the and it is 011 this aspect that commencement of a

few remarks,

educational aspect, we would, at the

year and volume offer congratulatory and encouraging. a new

What medical education been achieved

now

entirely through

is in India has the agency and

efforts of the Indian Medical Services.

Our medical colleges are now on a level with those of Europe in respect of the completeness and

quality

of the education aud

training imparted

in them, and the medical degrees of our Universities are quite equal to those of other countries. The alumni of our medical schools enjoy advantages not inferior to those of foreign schools, and the

more

enlightened

among the

inhabitants

of

India have learnt to appreciate the services of men trained to observe, think, and practise ration-

ally according to the methods of the West, and to recoguise the value of the imprimatur of a University. The present position of medical education is the result of a long series of gradual developments. Medical education commenced in the regimental and civil hospital. Smart native lads serving as compounders and

taught, distinguish, recognise, and treat diseases, to perform post moexaminations, and make a good use of their heads and dressers

were

to

hospital. These became the Native early days?"locally entertained" they were afterwards known?to distinguish

hands iu the

were

Science in all

these.

of the duties for which

engaged. On the contrary, proposed to themselves other and

their services

1887.

[Jan.,

Doctors of the as

them from those educated in schools. Sons of soldiers and other country-born youths were apprenticed to the hospitals of European regiments, and these

taught and trained to act as apoperform the subordinate medical connected with the medical charge of were

thecaries and to duties

Europeans. Many of these hospitalrtraiued men, European, Eurasian aud Native, acquired great proficiency and skill, aud some of these latter gained great reputation and wealth iu practice These were among their fellow-countrymen. the first-fruits of the educational efforts of the Indian Medical Service. education has been

Since then medical

specialised,

schools

granting degrees

sprung

up

in numbers.

and

colleges

and licenses

officers of the

The

Medical Service have been the

and

have

organizers, admin-

istrators, and instructors in all these various institutions, the only difference being, that the taught of earlier days have become the teachers of later times, and native professors aud lecturers are now performing excellent aud useful service in both

colleges

and schools.

to draw very pointed attention to the of the story development of medical education in iu Iudia these days when the spirit of

It is well

unrest

is

to be laid

abroad, to the

aud when the root

sufficiently considering It is the high purposes, wise,

which

subserved,

is

axe

of the

too

apt

without

tree

the effect of the process. educational and other-

the Indiau Medical

Service has

which have attracted the succession

of great men who have gained for it distinction. Good men are still entering it under the influence

ing

of its

prestige, aud

with the

hope

of spend-

lives of usefulness aud honour similar

those of their

to

And after

predecessors. entering service, men strive to train aud qualify them^ selves for positions of responsibility and power for good ; and certainly the Civil Medical Service the

of India offers

opportunity on

an

excellent field and abuudant

tor such

their mettle and

training. resources

Men in

a

are

way

thrown

perhaps

unknown in any other part of the world, and

THE HEALTH OF CALCUTTA.

Jan., 1887.]

impetus their early professional lite lias given them, whether towards medicine or surgery or any special branch of either, they find for its development plenty of scope and exercise. Accordingly, there never has beeu any difficulty experienced in finding suitable men in and from the ranks of the service for college appoint-

whatever

ments, and we have never heard of the case of an officer who failed to justify his selection, and had to be

relegated

ment and

means

exacting duties. The Indian Medical Service is naturally very jealous of its prerogative and reputation as the instruof

maintaining, advancing, science

and

India, and any movement towards depriving it of a position and function which it has honourably and efficiently

imparting

medical

to less

in

made its own, would strike a most serious blow at the prestige, popularity, and tone of the service.

11