from some hereditary taint in the patient's constitution,his professional character is materially injured; probably he is prosecuted for damages, or arraigned for culpable homicide.
Even our greatest generals have been neglectful of the services of their medical officers. How seldom do their names appear in a gazette? and, even though mentioned, how seldom does that lead to honour or reward? Every surgeon in India, who has seen much service, has had the mortification of seeing officers of the same standing, and of the same service as himself, promoted by brevet to the rank of major and lieutenant-colonel,probably with C.B. in addition, whilst the batta and the medal have been thought enough for him! Let us look over the medical list of the Indian army consisting of nearly nine hundred officers, and we will find only two with C.B. attached to their names, and only one raised to the rank of Knight.
Every public department has its honours and rewards, as the highest incentive to the effective performance of duty,and the higher these honours are in proportion to its importance.
Who will say that the restoration to health of the sick thousands of all armies is not an important charge? but how few are the rewards! The Surgeon's sense of duty, and his philanthropy,are expected to do for him (and how seldom do they
