NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
SECT. III.]
EXECUTIVE MEDICAL OFFICERS (CIVIL.)
(d.) In cases of emergency Medical Officers, without reference to their
particular charge, will afford the most prompt assistance, to all cases in which
their services are called for, informing the patient at the same time, who
his proper medical attendant is.
(e.) Medical certificates granted by private practitioners to Military
Officers, cannot under any circumstances be recognized: but such certificates
when countersigned (after perusal of the case and personal examination of
the patient) by the Medical Officer of the district, are to be submitted for the
decision of a board of Medical Officers, convened under the orders of the
Officer Commanding the Division.
(f) Officers are not to quit the Hills for the purpose of returning to
their duty, until such period, short of the expiration of their leave, as will
allow them time, at the prescribed rate of marching or travelling, to join :
and then only upon being reported by the Medical Officer of their district as
fit to join.
(g.) The families of Military Officers, if in military employ, are entitled
to gratuitous medical aid from the Surgeon of the district in which they reside.
(h) Officers of Her Majesty's British and Madras Armies, residing on
the Neilgherries, are available, under orders from the Officer Commanding the
Mysore Division, for employment at Wellington, or other station on the Hills,
on Military duties, such as courts-martial, (superior to regimental,) or mixed
committees of Her Majesty's service, unless reported unfit by their medical
attendant.
(i) A monthly Register or Roster will be kept by each Medical Officer,
shewing the rank and names of the officers considered eligible for such
employment, who will forward the register on the 1st or 2nd of each month
G. O. C. C. No. to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General of the divi-
1 0 6 o f 1 8 6 4 . s i o n . Al l o f f i c e r s n o t u n d e r me d i c a l t r e a t me n t wi l l
present themselves to the Medical Officer, in whose district they reside on or
about the last day in each month, to enable him to prepare the register.
(j) This arrangement is intended to obviate the necessity of withdraw-
ing officers from distant stations, for the performance of duties which can be
readily carried on locally, and it is to be distinctly understood that such
employ will confer no claim to extra allowances, or to compensation for any
other allowances suspended during residence on the Hills ; nor is an officer
to be detailed for such duty, if it shall interfere with the tenor of his medical
certificate by placing him on duty of uncertain duration, and thus preventing
his return to duty within the period originally specified, unless under special
sanction to be specially obtained from Army Head-quarters.
(k.) Printed copies of these rules are supplied from Madras to each
74
EXECUTIVE MEDICAL OFFICERS (CIVIL.)
[SECT. III.
Medical Officer, for information of sick officers on arrival on the Hills, which,
when thoroughly perused, will be returned to the Medical Officer signed.
(l .) Any infringement of these orders, is to be immediately reported to
the Officer Commanding the Division, through the proper channel, who will,
if necessary, forward the same to the Adjutant General of the Army, for His
Excellency's disposal.
N. B.—Officers on privilege leave on the Neilgherries are to report
themselves on arrival and departure to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General
of the Division, and are available for the duties specified in clause ( h,) at
the discretion of the Officer Commanding the Division, who will, however,
detail officers on general, in preference to those on privilege, leave.
Chemical Examiner.
1 4 0 . C H E M I C A L E X A M I N E R . — T h e P r o f e s s o r o f C h e m i s t r y i n t h e M a d r a s
Medical College is ex-officio Chemical Examiner to the Government of Fort
Saint George.
1 4 1 .
D u t i e s
. — T h e d u t i e s o f t h e C h e m i c a l E x a m i n e r a r e c h i e f l y t o e x a m i n e
and report upon substances submitted to him for investigation, by Magisterial
and Police Officers, in cases where poisoning is suspected. He is also requir
- e d . t o a n a l y s e a n d r e p o r t o n s p e c i m e n s o f w a t e r u s e d b y t r o o p s i n M i l i t a r y
Cantonments, or encamping grounds ; to examine soils submitted to him by
order of Government, and generally, to test the quality of articles of food and
drink supplied to troops and public institutions, when he may receive instruc
- t i o n s t o t h a t e f f e c t .
1 4 2 . A s t h e m e d i c o - l e g a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n s a r e t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t o f t h e
duties of the Chemical Examiner, it is to be understood that analyses of
w a t e r s , s o i l s , & c . , c a n o n l y b e u n d e r t a k e n w h e n t h e C h e m i c a l E x a m i n e r m a y
have no other work on hand requiring immediate attention.
1 4 3 . L A B O R A T O R Y A N D R E - A G E N T S . — T h e C h e m i c a l E x a m i n e r i s p r o v i d e d
by Government with a laboratory and all essential apparatus and re-agents
for the performance of his duties.
1 4 4 .
S u s p e c t e d s u b s t a n c e s f o r a n a l y s i s
. —I n t he t r ansmi ssi on of sus-
pected matters (in cases of poisoning or suspected poisoning) to the Presi
dency for analysis, the following rules are to be observed, viz. :—
(
a .)
T h r e e o b j e c t s s h o u l d b e c a r e f u l l y a t t e n d e d t o i n t h e d e s p a t c h
of all suspected matters ; the proof of identity ; the impossibility of any
i n t e r f e r e n c e d u r i n g t r a n s i t ; a n d , t h i r d l y , p r e s e r v a t i o n f r o m
d e c o m p o - s i t i o n .
(
b .)
A r t i c l e s f o r a n a l y s i s s h o u l d b e e n c l o s e d i n p e r f e c t l y c l e a n g l a s s
bottles or jars, accurately corked., tied, and sealed with hard wax, and by the
SECT. III.]
EXECUTIVE MEDICAL OFFICERS (CIVIL.)
75
private seal of the Surgeon or Magistrate. Bottles, &c., should be enclosed in
a thick layer of cotton, and all placed in tin, soldered, and sealed. When.
wooden boxes must be used, these should be sealed and taped at every open
-ing, below as well as above.
(c.) All liquid and animal matters liable to decomposition, should be
put up in, or mixed with, the strongest spirit available ; this effectually pre
- v e n t s d e c o m p o s i t i o n , a n d w i t h o u t i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h t h e s u b s e q u e n t a n a l y s i s ,
obviates many serious accidents.
(d.) A minute and detailed account of the case, symptoms, appearances
on dissection, and treatment, if any, should in every instance be forwarded, as
these afford a clue, not only to the kind or class of poison made use of, but also
not unfrequently, to the individual or identical poison itself.
(e.) In cases where arsenic or any other mineral poison is suspected,
and when the patient has survived for twenty-four hours or more after its exhibi
-tion, the liver should be sent, as well as the stomach and a part of the intestines,
also a portion of any suspected matter, which might have been the vehicle of
exhibiting the poison, as food, rice, congee-water, &c. When any substance
vomited by a patient is forwarded, it should be mentioned whether it is a por
-tion of the first vomiting or not ; the matters emitted by the first vomitings
are most likely to contain portions of the poison.
145. LOCAL ANALYSES.—The rules for the transmission of suspected sub
-stances, as above given, will not prevent analyses being made by Medical
Officers at out-stations, who may have the means of examining suspected
matters ; and it is desirable on legal grounds that local analyses should be
made whenever possible.
146. VEGETABLE POISONS.—When the use of a vegetable poison is sus
-pected, it is quite competent for the Medical Officer on the spot, to do all that
the Chemical Examiner can do. With this object, a portion of the suspected
substance should be treated with proof spirit and a little acetic acid for 24
or 48 hours* ; after applying a gentle heat, the mixture should be thrown upon
a filter. The filtrate should be evaporated over a water-bath, to the con
-sistence of an extract, and the physiological action of the extract should be
tested by administering a portion of the same to a young chicken, puppy, or
kitten. Dilatation of the pupil following the introduction of a small quantity
of the extract into the eye of the last animal, gives ground for suspecting the
presence of dhatura or aconite.
147. Whenever a partial examination of a suspected substance has been
made by the Medical Officer on the spot, and the substance is subsequently for-
* G a n j a h w i l l c o m m u n i c a t e a g r e e n c o l o r t o t h i s i n f u s i o n , .
76
EXECUTIVE MEDICAL OFFICERS (CIVIL.)
[SECT. III.
warded. to the Chemical Examiner, the result of the local investigation is to
be stated.
148. SUSPECTED MATTERS TO BE SENT TO DISTRICT URGEON.—POliCe Offi
-cers, Magistrates and others should in every case forward suspected substances
in the first instance to the District Surgeon, and this Officer, if unable to
come to a definite opinion thereon, is responsible for their transmission to the
Chemical Examiner, with every needful statement elucidatory of the case.
149. Collection of water for analysis .—In forwarding samples of
waters, it is essential that the person seeking the analysis should obtain the
specimens with his own hands, and attend to the following instructions :
—
(a.) The bottles should be absolutely clean, which can be effected by
washing them out with sulphuric acid and distilled water.
(b.) Glass stoppered bottles are best, but if those are not procurable, new
corks are to be used with the ordinary quart wine bottle, of light colored glass.
In filling the bottles a little space should be left between the cork and the water.
(c.) Not less than one gallon of water is to be forwarded.
(d.) Each bottle to be labelled, with the name of the well, and date of
collection.
(e.) The employment of peons, or servants in procuring samples of
water for analysis is positively forbidden, and the Chemical Examiner will be
justified in refusing to undertake any analysis, unless it is certified to him by
the person forwarding the specimen, that he has himself collected, or per
-sonally superintended the collection of the specimen, and that every precau-
tion has been taken to obtain the water in its natural state.
150. BEER.—When Malt liquor is sent to the Chemical Examiner not
less than two quart bottles should be forwarded.
151. BLOOD STAINS.—Medical Officers should make known to Police Offi
-cers, Magistrates, &c., that the Chemical Examiner has no means of distinguish
-ing the blood of human beings from that of other mammals, and that, under
ordinary circumstances, medico-legal evidence as to blood stains can be given
as well by District Medical Officers, as by the Chemical Examiner.
152. Private analytical work.—It is no portion of the duty of the
Chemical Examiner to analyse samples of food or drink tendered by private
parties for supply to the Commissariat or other departments of the Govern-
ment. The Commissariat Department may, if necessary, require of parties
tendering a certificate from a recognized Chemical Analyser that the articles
tendered are, chemically, what they profess to be.
153. Whenever the Chemical Examiner may have a doubt as to the
propriety of individuals calling upon him to undertake analyses, he is to refer
to the Inspector General, Indian Medical Department, for orders,
SECTION IV.
SUB-ASSISTANT SURGEONS.
1. Origin of grade.—The grade of Sub-Assi stant Surgeon was estab.
G. O. G. No. 92 of lished on the 23rd April 1847, when, under instructions
23rd April 1847. from the Honorable the late Court of Directors, the
Madras Government authorised the formation of a superior grade of native
medical practitioners for the service of the several Collectorates.
2. NATI VE SURGEONS RANKED WI TH THE GRADE. —On t he f i rst est abl i shment
of the superior grade, the designation " Native Apothecary" was employed to
Memo., 21st May distinguish it, but when the three first members of the
1852, Pub. Dept. grade obtained their diplomas as Graduates of the Madras
Medical College, the designation was changed to that of " Native Surgeon."
Native Surgeons who were in the service before 1863, have the privilege of
retaining the title, if they prefer it, in lieu of " Sub-Assistant Surgeon."
3. OPEN TO ALL CLASSES.—The grade of Sub-Assistant Surgeon is now
G . O . G . N o . 1 7 1 o f o p e n t o E u r o p e a n s a n d E a s t I n d i a n s , a s w e l l a s t o N a t i v e s .
1863. Previous to 1863, it was restricted entirely to Natives of
" respectable connections and good character."
4. Establishment —A Sub-Assistant Surgeon is allowed for each of the
districts marginally named—
They are to be stationed
Arcot (North). Kistna.
Bellary. Madura. at such places in the different
Canara (South). Malabar. districts as may be considered
Coimbatore. Nellore.
G. O. G. No. 92 of Cuddalore. Salem. best adapted to render their
1847. Cuddapah. Tanjore.
services most useful to the
Ganj am.
Tinnevelly.
Guntoor.
Trichinopoly native community, and they
Godavery. Vizagapatam. will be required from time to
time, especially during the prevalence of sickness, to itinerate through the
districts allotted. to them, for the purpose of more generally affording medical
aid to the people.
5. PROPORTION OF APPOINTMENTS FOR SUBORDINATES.—Of the eighteen ap
-pointments at present sanctioned in the grade of Sub-Assistant Surgeon, a
78
SUB-ASSISTANT SURGEONS.
[SECT. IV.
proportion of one-third is reserved for members of the subordinate medical
establishment, who may be specially permitted to study and compete for the
same.
6. Qualification.—The Madras Medical College having ceased to issue
G . O . N o . 1 1 2 o f d i p l o m a s o f q u a l i f i c a t i o n i n M e d i c i n e a n d S u r g e r y , a l l
1864. Edl. Dept. candidates for employment as Sub-Assistant Surgeons,
who do not belong to the subordinate medical department, must now obtain a
degree, or degrees, in Medicine and Surgery from the Madras, or some other
University. Medical Subordinates will be subjected to a special examination
to test their fitness to enter the grade.
7. PAY.—The pay of Sub-Assistant Surgeons is as follows : subject to
the passi ng of a sati sfactory exami nati on at the end of the 7th and 14th
years of service
—
Per mensem.
Under seven years from the date of appointment... Rs. 100
Seven years and under fourteen... •••
••• , , , , 150
Fourteen years and upward...
•••
... „ 200 .
1.
8. LEAVE AND PENSION.—Sub-Assistant, Surgeons are entitled to leave,
and to pensions undert he rules applicable to the Uncovenanted Civil Service.
2.
9. Duties.—Sub-Assistant Surgeons maybe appointed at the discretion
of Government to the medical charge of Civil Dispensaries, situated in the
districts to which they are attached. Sub-Assistant Surgeons, whether in
charge of Dispensaries or not, are to afford medical assistance to the poor of
the district. They are prohibited from demanding fees for attendance on
Government servants, and generally from those who can ill afford to pay them.
Sub-Assistant Surgeons are entitled to claim reasonable fees from private
individuals who employ their services, as well as from Government servants
in Civil employ, for medical attendance on their families. Sub-Assistant
Surgeons are employed only on Civil Medical duties.
3.
10. VACCINATION.—Sub-Assistant Surgeons are to interest themselves in
spreading vaccination, in their own immediate circles.
4.
11. STUDY OF PATHOLOGY.—They are to take every convenient opportunity
of making post mortem examinations of the fatal cases occurring under
their care, obtaining in every case the full consent of the relatives, and
invariably performing the examination with neatness, and decency.
5.
12. POSITION OF SUB-ASSISTANT SURGEONS.—Sub-Assistant Surgeons hold
a. superior position to officers of the Subordinate Medical
Min. Consult. No. 466 Establishment they are expected to live as, and to
21st May 1852.Pub.
Dept. associate with gentlemen of their own station in life,
Medl. Dept. No. 730, and at all times to maintain the honor and dignity of
of 8th May 1852. their profession.
SECT. V.]
MEDICAL SUBORDINATE DEPARTMENT.
79
13. STIPENDS GIVEN FOR AID TO THE POOR ONLY.—The stipends allowed
by Government to Sub-Assistant Surgeons, are expressly given for at
- t e n d a n c e o n t h e p o o r , a n d f o r a f f o r d i n g a i d t o G o v e r n m e n t s e r v a n t s . I t w a s
never intended that the incomes of this class of medical practitioners should be
restricted to their official stipends. They are permitted, and expected, to en
-gage in private practice amongst the wealthy inhabitants of their districts.
1 4 . SEPT ENNI AL EXAMI NAT I ONS. —Su b - As s i s t a n t Su r g e o n s a r e r e q u i r e d t o
G . O . G . N o . 1 6 9 p a s s t w o S e p t e n n i a l E x a m i n a t i o n s . T h e f i r s t o n t h e
of 1852. completion of seven years' service, the second on the
compl et i on of f ourt een. The exami nat i ons wi l l be conduct ed by a commi t t ee
appointed by the Inspector General, Indian Medical Department, who will
indicate the nature and extent of the examinations.
15. It will be in the power of the committee in case of culpable neglect
of Medical study, to recommend to Government the postponement of promo
-tion, or, if necessary, to recommend removal from the grade of Sub-Assistant
Surgeon.
SECTION V.
MEDICAL SUBORDINATE DEPARTMENT.
I.—Apothecaries.
II—Assistant Apothecaries.
III.—Apprentices.
IV.—Hospital Assistants.
V.—Medical Pupils.
1 .
T w o c l a s s e s
. — T h e S u b o r d i n a t e M e d i c a l E s t a b l i s h m e n t i s d i v i d e d
into two classes.
2 . A P O T H E C A R Y C L A S S . — T h e f i r s t i s d e s i g n a t e d t h e " A p o t h e c a r y " c l a s s ,
G. O. G. G., No. 550 for general employment with European Troops, Hospitals,
of 1868. Depots, &c., including what was formerly known as the
Subordinate Medical Department in Bengal, the corresponding portion of the
Medical Establishment in Madras, and the Warrant Medical Officers and
Apprentices in Bombay.
3. HOSPITAL ASSISTANT CLASS.—The second is designated the " Hospital
Assistant" class, for general duty with Native Troops and Native Civil Hos
- p i t a l s , a n d i n c l u d e t h e f o r m e r " N a t i v e D o c t o r s " i n B e n g a l , " D r e s s e r s " i n
Madras, and " Hospital Assistants" in Bombay.
MEDICAL SUBORDINATE DEPARTMENT.
[SECT. V.
80
4. Enlistment.—All candidates desirous of enlisting in Her Majesty's
G. 0. G. No. 170, Indian Forces, Madras Presidency, for the Medical
of 20th April 1867. Subordinate Department, may, if found eligible, be enlist-
ed according to the rules in force for that department, and be attested agree-
ably to the subjoined forms.
5. Prior to enlistment, the candidate is to be examined by a Medical
Officer, and, if declared fit for the service, his personal description is to be
duly registered, and the Articles of War for mutiny and sedition—striking or
offering violence to a superior Officer ; disobeying the lawful command of a
superior Officer ; and desertion ; with the punishments awardable—are to be
read and explained to him before he is attested.
6. Form of Attestation for Europeans and the sons of natural-born
British subjects, East Indians, and others professing the Christian religion and
amenable to the Mutiny Act, not being Natives of India.
Declaration to be made by the person on Attestation.
I
now
residing in the
of
in
the
of
do solemnly and sincerely declare,
that to the best of my knowledge and belief I was born in the
of
in the
of
and am
years of age ; that
I am of the trade or calling of (or of no trade or calling, as the case
may be) : that I am not an apprentice : that I am not married : that I am
not a widower, (or that I am a widower and that I have, or have not chil-
dren) : that I do not belong to the Militia, or to the Naval Coast Volunteers or
* This shall be held
to include employ-
ment as Medical Ap-
prentice,Pupil,or Stu-
dent in the Medical
College.
to any portion of Her Majesty's Land or Sea Forces : that
I have never served Her Majesty by Land or Sea in any
Military* or Naval employment whatsoever, except :—
that I have never been marked with the letter D : that I
have never been rejected as unfit for Her Majesty's
service on any previous enlistment : that I was enlisted at
on the
day of 18 , by of , and have no objec-
tion to make to the manner of my enlistment : that I am willing to be at-
tested to serve in the Medical Subordinate Service of Her Majesty's Indian
Forces of the Madras Presidency, as a Paid Hospital Apprentice (or Medical
Pupil) and subsequently when qualified for transfer, as an Assistant Apothe-
cary (or Hospital Assistant) until legally discharged.
Signature of person.
Signature of witness present.
Oath to be taken by the person on Attestation.
that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty, Her Heirs
SECT- V.]
MEDICAL SUBORDINATE DEPARTMENT.
81
and Successors, and that I will, as in duty bound, honestly and faithfully
defend Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, in person, Crown, and
dignity, against all enemies, and will observe and obey all orders of Her
Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, and of the Generals and Officers set
over me.
So help me God.
Witness my hand
Signature of person.
Signature of witness present.
The above declaration and oath were made before me at this
day of
one thousand eight hundred and
Signature of Justice.
7. Form of attestation for Natives of India, professing and not profess-
ing the Christian religion, amenable to the Articles of War for the Native
Army.
A declaration to be made in the form above ordered.
An oath to be taken in the form above established, by those professing
the Christian religion, or a solemn affirmation to be made by those not pro-
fessing the Christian religion, in the following form :
—
I solemnly affirm, in the presence of Almighty God, that
I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty, Her Heirs and
Successors, and that I will, as in duty bound, honestly and faithfully defend
Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, in person, Crown, and dignity,
against all enemies, and will observe and obey all orders of Her Majesty, Her
Heirs and Successors, and of the Generals and Officers set over me.
Signature of person.
Signature of witness present.
The above declaration and solemn affirmation were made before me at
this
day of
one thousand eight hundred
and.
Signature of Justice.
8.
OPEN TO ALL CLASSES.—The Subordinate Medical Department,
whether of the Apothecary or Hospital Assistant class, is open to all classes
of Her Majesty's subjects, irrespective of caste or creed.
9. Apothecary Class.—Candidates for the Apothecary class must not
G. O. C. C. No. 148, be below fifteen, nor above eighteen years of age. They
16th November 1868: must produce certificates of age, with testimonials as to
character and respectability and a certificate of physical fitness for Military
Service, signed by a Commissioned Medical Officer of the British or Indian
Service.