secretary, who is either a surgeon or an assistant. Members of the Board are obliged to vacate office after having held their appointments five years, but superintending surgeons are not so restricted. Their duties are to superintend the whole medical department; to receive health reports; to check supplies;and to make such suggestions for the health of the army as they may think proper; in fact, their duties are almost executive. They are allowed no exercise of patronage; they may recommend medical officers to the favourable consideration of Government; but all nominations are made either by the Governor-General,the Deputy Governor, or the Commander-in-chief. Their influence in their own department is,therefore, very circumscribed, and the Board has become a refuge for the three longest livers, rather than a college of health,omnipotent over their profession.
9. SUPEEINTENDING SUEGEON.—The grade of superintending surgeon (as has been before mentioned) was,in 1842, abolished, as a step between that of surgeon and the Board. The office is considered that of a staff appointment, to which any one of any standing is eligible to be nominated. However, the twelve seniors have hitherto held office, one being attached to each division of the army. The duty of superintending surgeon is to make an annual inspection of all the hospitals in
