THE INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICE AND DR. FATHER. TO THE EDITOK OF THE
"
INDIAN MEDICAL
GAZETTE."
Sik,?I, in common with, I should hope, many other members of the Indian Medical Service, must feel grateful to you f^r your remarks on Dr. Fnyrer's recent address at Netley, i? June number of the Gazette. I wish however, you had gone a little further, and analyzed somewhat the grievances anil drawbacks alluded to, and pointe out some means of obviating such of them as are capable thereof, and ameliorating, if possible, such as are inevitable ?n
inseparable
from
an
Indian
carecr.
August 2, 1875.] Silence,
SELECTION.
under the circumstances, may lead to conclusion that acquiescence in, or approval of, the present state of affairs exists, which is far from being the
the
the
or
quiescence
erroneous
case.
I contend that the present would be a favorable time to ventilate and state our grievances, and adopt some measures for their removal. "We have a viceroy of acknowledged ability, extended Indian experience, capable of forming an independent judgment on such a question, if properly placed before him, and what is more, who has the courage of his convictions. From one who combines these qualifications, I would hope much, on his taking the circumstances of the medical service, notably the pension rules, into consideration ; or we should ask for, or expect nothing, but what is equitable and reasonable. The rules regarding unemployed pay, and officiating appointments, bear hardly on the junior members, and need some revision. To begin at the beginning, the rules supplied from the India Office should be so worded as not to mislead the young surgeon into the belief that he will draw full pay when " he shall have passed the examination in Hindustani known as the 'lower stan-
dard.'" Far better would it be, that he should know exactly what he was coming to, and not be left to find out the real state of affairs himSelf on arrival in the country, or on having passed the examination, and experience, at the very commencement of his service, a sense of acute disappointment, and a feeling more ' or less of having been sold.' This rule, together with that regarding officiating appointments are
very harassing. It is very hard to bo kept knocking about for years on unemployed pay,plus some wretched acting allowance; or officiating in some appointment, when a permanent posting might be I contend that the exigencies of the service do not made. demand that these should be carried out to the extent that they are in some presidencies ; and I am quite certain that its efficiency is not enhanced thereby. It is illogical to expect men to be very zealous, \rho are working more or less under
protest. Favoritism, jobbing, and confused administration exist, nay flourish, in some places which I shall not. particularize. Depreciation of the value of salaries, and increasing expenses of living, are questions which demand the attention of all. but
especially of those members of the service who do not participate in the funds, and who consequently, as n. rule, have nothing to look forward to on retirement, except their hare pensions. Such proportions have they assumed now-a-days in India, that they debar the majority from putting by much for the conventional rainy day ; either, in the event of death, for widow and orphans, or, ou retirement, to supplement the miserably small pension, and so enable one to live in moderate
cimfort at home. Under the present pension rules, and the circumstances mentioned above, retirement cannot be a pleasant thing for the
majority
to
contemplate.
These pension rules were framed for other days, and a different condition of things, and are unquestionably inadequate in the present time. To my mind, the questions of unemployed pay, officiating appointments, and all others are trifles in comparison to this oue of inadequacy of pensions. They apply mainly to one in the early period of his service, while he still possesses the sanguinity and hopefulness of youth, and are outlived, and perhaps frequently forgotten, but the question of pension applies to one in the evening of life, when he is worn out with the toils and labor of the day, and yearns for a few years' rest, and peaceful retirement in his native land. What man, with a family, could think of retiring on ?365 a year ? nevertheless, it has sometimes to be done, but never
Voluntarily.
In looking at the Indian Medical Service in this aspect, I can scarcely realize that it is the same service which was painted the other day at Netley, by Dr. Fayrer, in such brilliant colors. It is much to be regretted that a man of his position should give a one-sided and? consequently erroneous view of the question; it is prejudicial to the interests of the service, and can only be productive of disappointment and discontent in the end to his hearers, at least to the Indian portion thereof. The present lowest rate of pension, viz., ?220, should be done away with altogether, and the next, wis., ?292substituted for it, of ?550. and so on; with ?700 after 30 years, instead Our furlough rules ought to be amended, to the extent of allowing more than does at present count for pension, when a man
-
221
devotes it, and proves satisfactorily that thereby making himself a more valuable
he does so, to study, and efficient servant of the state-. At present the more zealous and conscientious a doctor is, the harder does he work at home, during what ought to be his holiday. Some such rule, as that proposed, exists in the case of the R. E. officers employed in India, and its extension to medical officers of the local services would be wise and beneficent on the part of Government, and beneficial to us individually and collectively, as tending to promote zeal, effisiencv and contentment. There are other matters which I should wish to notice, but refrain, as I fear I have already trespassed too much on yonr space, but shall be glad to do so at"a future time, if you will
permit
me.
the meantime, I trust this may be the means, however humble, of stimulating enquiry and thought, on the points adverted to, on the part of other members of the service. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, ' Deccan.' In
"
INDIAN MEDICAL
GAZETTE."
Sik,?I, in common with, I should hope, many other members of the Indian Medical Service, must feel grateful to you f^r your remarks on Dr. Fnyrer's recent address at Netley, i? June number of the Gazette. I wish however, you had gone a little further, and analyzed somewhat the grievances anil drawbacks alluded to, and pointe out some means of obviating such of them as are capable thereof, and ameliorating, if possible, such as are inevitable ?n
inseparable
from
an
Indian
carecr.
August 2, 1875.] Silence,
SELECTION.
under the circumstances, may lead to conclusion that acquiescence in, or approval of, the present state of affairs exists, which is far from being the
the
the
or
quiescence
erroneous
case.
I contend that the present would be a favorable time to ventilate and state our grievances, and adopt some measures for their removal. "We have a viceroy of acknowledged ability, extended Indian experience, capable of forming an independent judgment on such a question, if properly placed before him, and what is more, who has the courage of his convictions. From one who combines these qualifications, I would hope much, on his taking the circumstances of the medical service, notably the pension rules, into consideration ; or we should ask for, or expect nothing, but what is equitable and reasonable. The rules regarding unemployed pay, and officiating appointments, bear hardly on the junior members, and need some revision. To begin at the beginning, the rules supplied from the India Office should be so worded as not to mislead the young surgeon into the belief that he will draw full pay when " he shall have passed the examination in Hindustani known as the 'lower stan-
dard.'" Far better would it be, that he should know exactly what he was coming to, and not be left to find out the real state of affairs himSelf on arrival in the country, or on having passed the examination, and experience, at the very commencement of his service, a sense of acute disappointment, and a feeling more ' or less of having been sold.' This rule, together with that regarding officiating appointments are
very harassing. It is very hard to bo kept knocking about for years on unemployed pay,plus some wretched acting allowance; or officiating in some appointment, when a permanent posting might be I contend that the exigencies of the service do not made. demand that these should be carried out to the extent that they are in some presidencies ; and I am quite certain that its efficiency is not enhanced thereby. It is illogical to expect men to be very zealous, \rho are working more or less under
protest. Favoritism, jobbing, and confused administration exist, nay flourish, in some places which I shall not. particularize. Depreciation of the value of salaries, and increasing expenses of living, are questions which demand the attention of all. but
especially of those members of the service who do not participate in the funds, and who consequently, as n. rule, have nothing to look forward to on retirement, except their hare pensions. Such proportions have they assumed now-a-days in India, that they debar the majority from putting by much for the conventional rainy day ; either, in the event of death, for widow and orphans, or, ou retirement, to supplement the miserably small pension, and so enable one to live in moderate
cimfort at home. Under the present pension rules, and the circumstances mentioned above, retirement cannot be a pleasant thing for the
majority
to
contemplate.
These pension rules were framed for other days, and a different condition of things, and are unquestionably inadequate in the present time. To my mind, the questions of unemployed pay, officiating appointments, and all others are trifles in comparison to this oue of inadequacy of pensions. They apply mainly to one in the early period of his service, while he still possesses the sanguinity and hopefulness of youth, and are outlived, and perhaps frequently forgotten, but the question of pension applies to one in the evening of life, when he is worn out with the toils and labor of the day, and yearns for a few years' rest, and peaceful retirement in his native land. What man, with a family, could think of retiring on ?365 a year ? nevertheless, it has sometimes to be done, but never
Voluntarily.
In looking at the Indian Medical Service in this aspect, I can scarcely realize that it is the same service which was painted the other day at Netley, by Dr. Fayrer, in such brilliant colors. It is much to be regretted that a man of his position should give a one-sided and? consequently erroneous view of the question; it is prejudicial to the interests of the service, and can only be productive of disappointment and discontent in the end to his hearers, at least to the Indian portion thereof. The present lowest rate of pension, viz., ?220, should be done away with altogether, and the next, wis., ?292substituted for it, of ?550. and so on; with ?700 after 30 years, instead Our furlough rules ought to be amended, to the extent of allowing more than does at present count for pension, when a man
-
221
devotes it, and proves satisfactorily that thereby making himself a more valuable
he does so, to study, and efficient servant of the state-. At present the more zealous and conscientious a doctor is, the harder does he work at home, during what ought to be his holiday. Some such rule, as that proposed, exists in the case of the R. E. officers employed in India, and its extension to medical officers of the local services would be wise and beneficent on the part of Government, and beneficial to us individually and collectively, as tending to promote zeal, effisiencv and contentment. There are other matters which I should wish to notice, but refrain, as I fear I have already trespassed too much on yonr space, but shall be glad to do so at"a future time, if you will
permit
me.
the meantime, I trust this may be the means, however humble, of stimulating enquiry and thought, on the points adverted to, on the part of other members of the service. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, ' Deccan.' In
