The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-29 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR, —The Government of Lord Palmerston must fall
unless sustained by "the pressure from without," but
the national sympathy can only be won and held, in
times of great emergency, by bold acts, founded on
sound principles. The intentions of the Palmerston
Cabinet are good, but its enemies are numerous and
powerful. It has yet to show that it has the energy to
shako off the caooeth,eB of routine. In all departments
there is much eradication, lopping, and transplanting to
ho done, and great will be the resistance that will be
offered to the projected reformation.
Persons unacquainted with the action of Government
have no conception of the thousand influences that are
constantly exerted to seduce a Minister from his duty.
Parliamentary solicitations disturb his exercise of patron-
age, and the vis in,ertice of an over-grown, ill•governed,
and idle official staff, neutralise his most strenuous
efforts by a passive resistance.
Lord Panmure's task in reconstructing the War De-
partment, though he will be assisted by the report of
the "Crimean Committee," will be gigantic, and may
prove abortive, unless he is aided by the press and the
public.

I have ventured to suggest t his lordship a scheme
for the reform of one branch of his department, the Army
Medical Staff, which he is well inclined to adopt, but
there are so many prejudices to be overcome in high
quarters, and so many private interests and feelings that
must be wounded, that unless the medical profession
bestir itself, so as to obtain a general expression of pub-
lic sympathy with their claims, his lordship will be
able to obtain for them but a scant measure of justice.—
I am sir, your obedient servant,

D. O. E.

March 28, 1855.

London, 27th February, 1855.

My Lord,—The letter addressed by your lordship to
the managers of Medical Hospitals and Dispensaries
challenges every loyal medical man to offer to her
Majesty's Government, at the present juncture, every
aid in his power. It will also, I hope, plead as an
apology flr my intrusion on your attention.
The having had i.he honour of serving the Crown in a
military medical capacity, and having for several years
been the medical resident of one of the London Hos-
pitals, have initiated me into the systems of manage-
ment adopted both in civil and military practice. I am,
consequently, familiar with the working of the Army
Medical Department, as well as with the feelings and
opinions of the medical profession in general.
Fearing that your lordship's appeal to the civil prac-
titioners of medicine may not be attended witk the
expected success, I beg leave to address to you a few
observations on the subject.
The inefficiency of the Army Medial Staff, lately
manifested in so many painful failures, may be traced
to several long existing causes.

At the root of the evil will be found a feeling of
alienation from the Government, running through the
entire medic _l body. This sentiment has been kindled
by the neglect, false economy, and even persecution of
former authorities. The Crown and Parliament have
conferred no adequate rewards and distinctions on medi-
cal men of merit. The few places of emolument for-
merly be,towe 1 on professional veterans have been sup-
pressed, or curtailed. Many acts of oppression have
emanated from the original Poor-Law Commissioners,
under the sanction of the great officers of State,
and even at the present moment the grievances of the
naval surgeons are disdainfully neglected.
A disregard of the feelings and interasts of the medi-
cal man has been displayed in all branches of the public
service. Stingy recompence and blindness to merit
have always characterised the conduct of the British
Government to its medical servants, and have repelled
from the service of the State men of talent and enter-
pri-e, who are naturally attracted by the higher prizes
and the greater personal consideration which private
practice insures. _ _

fa the army, particularly, not only have the medical
officers been treated with supercilious indifference., but
the original appointments to the service, and all subse-
quent promotions, have been distorted by motives of
nepotism and borough interest. Men of superior talents,
fimling themselves by chance in the ranks of the army
surgeons, have speedily discovered that their position
afforded no field for the exercise of their abilities, and
have abandoned it for scenes more fertile in reward.

The medical profession are acutely sensible that a fair
share of public honours and rewards has not been ac-
corded to them. They see their social position so infe-
rior to that of their brethren in all other civilised coun-
tries, and so lowared through the positive discOurage-
rnent of the Government, that members of the territorial
and privileged families, and the more ambitious spirits
of each generation, are consequently deterred from en-
tering their ranks. It is not to be wondered at, there-
fore, that a persuasion is spreading amongst them that
their interests, at least, could not be damaged by any
organic changes in the institutions of the country.
My Lord, we are 20,000 educated men, distributed
all over the Queen's dominions, having great influence
with the lower and middle classes, and understanding
the virtue of union amongst ourselves. Emergencies
sometimes occur in the history of society when the sup-
port of such a weil•disciplined and so intelligent a body
might be of vital importance to a statesman, perhaps to
a Government.

In your Lordship's present arduous task the good-will
of the medical profession is indispensable t) your suc-
cess. The aid of the best men can only be won by the
adoption of largo and liberal views of the justice of their

Your lordship's former career in office leads us to ex-
pect originality and boldness in your plans of reform.
You will not be fettered by precedents ; you will not be
contented with collecting a " posse" of inferior practi-
tioners, and thus tampering with the lives of your in-
valuable soldiery ; and you will not scruple, by a few
vigorous measures, to call to your aid the resources of
the whole medical body.
In the reconstruction of the Army Medical Depart-
ment, your lordship will find a safe basis in a few simple
principles.
The healing art is one—civil and military medicine and
surgery are based on the same physiological principles ;
and every well-trained medical man is as fit for one
function as the other.

Amon, civil practitioners there exists an abundance
of talent and skill available for the service of the State.
We have not only the actual officers of the public cha-
rities, arid others in full practice, but a class of expec-
tants, numerous, capable, and ready to step into the
shoes of their seniors. Besides these, there are many
respectable men, endowed with property, masters of
their art, and though they may not have the tact and
suppleness necessary to first-rate success in private prac-
tice, possessing virtues that fit them f)r public duties.
A peculiar preparation for the medical duties of the
army, and the expensive expedient of the half-pay list,
are perfectly superfluous ; whilst the cordial aid of an
overflowing profession may be earned by a few just and
reasonable concvsions.

The first stage in the proc6ss of reform is to improve
the relation between the Government and the medical
profession. When the Crown seeks counsel from its
subjects in important matters, it seems an obvious piece
of justice that the real advisers should have the credit
of being the ostensible advisers of the con,equent mea-
sures.

Is a bare recompence to a numerous class who confer
immense benefit on society, I respectfully suggest that
your lordship should recommend to her Majesty twelve
of the most eminent physicians and surgeons of the
Ulaited Kingdom to be sworn of the Privy Council.
They would form a committee, to be consulted in all
sanitary questions relating to a state of peace, as well as
to a st de of war.

Such a body would possess the confidence of the pro-
fession and of the nation, and would escape the suspicion
which surrounds the appointments proceeding from the
favour or private opinion of a Minister.
Upheld by such counsellors, and by the hearty good-
will of the whole medical faculty, the Government
would find little difficulty in constructing an eminently
effective medical staff for the army.
In the medical; as well as in the other military depart-
ments, the procuration of the "personnel" and the pro-
vision of the "materiel" form two distinct provinces of
duty.
There is already extant a numerous medical staff, pro-
bably including many clever men, but graduated accord-
ing to any influence rather than that of desert. The
right men are not in the right places. But if well orga-
nised, the present numbers would not be sufficient for
the wants of the army. It is, therefore, necessary to re-
cruit largely from the civil ranks, not only by engaging
youths fresh from the schools, but men of mature skill
and experience.
To discard the existing machinery, to dismiss the
superannuated habitue's of routine, and to consider the
whole departments as so many units to be recombined,
is an indispensable preliminary to a better organisation.
The first step for your lordship to take is the selection
of an intelligent medical man as your departmental sec-
retary, through whom you could accurately supervise
the action of the whole machine.

The present heads of the department should be re-
placed by a younger Army Medical Board, consisting of
the departmental secretary, and of military physicians
and surgeons of wide experience at home and abroad.
This council, under the close superintendence and occa-
sional presidence of your lordship—the chief, responsible
to the Crown and Parliament—could exercise important
functions ; admit candidates, regulate promotion, distri-
bute duties, receive reports, and publish periodical sum-
maries, exhibiting to the Government and the people
the sanitary condition of the army.
The proposed incorporation of mature medical men
into the military service could be satisfactorily effected
under the advice and influence of the Medical Commit-
tee of the Privy Council. Such a measure, though un-
avoidable at present, should be considered as exceptional,
and its recurrence ought to be rendered unnecessary by
the new arrangements.
As inducements to men of ability to enter and remain
in the public service a higher rate of pay should be estab-
lished through every grade, and liberal pensions bestowed
after long service. A number of superior staff appoint-
ments should be created as rewards for great excellence.
If a new-order of merit be, as is reported, founded by
her Majesty, an adequate section should be devoted to
the medical profession.
In filling up the vacancies which occur in the lowest
rank, the example of the Hon. East India Company isbe
worthy of imitation ; and the appointments should.
ar
'n,,:r‘c:l on CI:- viflzOrP, in " eoncours' or co,nptt ti' )u1
examinations. 'The application of this teat might be
of the three

kings • ems. The examinations would thus become popu-
lar, a nd above f,uspicion ; the first step on the ladder
of pe motion would be made the recompence of early
digit e nee, and attract to the Queen's service the choicest
of tb -aisin; race of etudents.
1 at army medical department would act more pliably
and a< ,curately if it were, like the commissariat, com
plet pl; J. isolated from the purely military structure of the
arm y. Surgeons should not, as at present, be rigidly
affil :ea ' to regiments, but distributed amongst the differ-
ent • di.. visions and sections of the military force, as it
?nig', it appear most expedient to the heads of the medi-
cal ( le] ?artments.

.
T extensive changes which I have thus faintly out-
lined would, if carried out, soothe the wounded feelings
of ti JA 3 medical profession, attract to the Government of
her M -aj es ty the counsels of the best professional intel-
lects maintain a copious influx of gifted candidates into
the litary medical ranks, and place in the hands of
your :lordship a machine at once powerful %nd tractable,
thro 'll which the benevolent purposes of the Govern-
ment ; would be effectually promoted in the most distant
and minute ramifications of this branch of the public
eery' ice.

H r vino-' collected and disciplined an effective corps of
med 'rat officers, the most important and difficult half of
your _lordship's task would be accomplished. The "per-
son? fg" of the medical staff being provided, the pre-
para ton of the "materiel," the supply of instruments,
medi eine, comfort., transport and shelter, would he a
coma yaratively easy achievement. The duty of procur-
ing t l'ese supplies would be best accomplished by a branch
of th a, commissariat. A due proportion of medical corn-
misst it ies acting under the orders of the chief of their
depa rtmentg, whose sufficient guarantee in all transac-
tions should be the command of the general, would con-
stitute a force better adapted to satisfy the requisitions
of th .0 medical officer?, and the wants of the sick and
wour. tied, than the old and cumbrous machinery of the
apoti it tcarist and the purveyor's departmen'. Persons
suite d to the performance of such duties are to be met
with .it abundance in the establishments of wholesale
drug giE ts, manufacturing chemists, and even amongst
med te.4l men.

I . fe el confident that, if your lordship will condescend
to bu., igulded by the considerations I have suggested, you
will obtain abundance of aid, conciliate the esteem of
the medical profession, calm the anxiety of the nation,
and„ chat your lordship has most at heart, secure to the
Brit ash soldier in every situation the most prompt and
pal 'tact professional assistance.

S ho uld you deem these suggestions worthy of atten-
tion, and desire any explanation of the principles and
detai is connected with them, I should be proud to have
the nvportunity of an interview, and afford any help in
my 11a wer to crown with success this important part of
your lo'rdship's Herculean enterprise.—l have the honour
to be„ ;your loidsiaip's obedient servant,

D. 0. EDWARDS.

War Department, March 10, 1855.
am directed by Lord Panmure to acknowledge
the raleipt of your communication, dated the 27th
Febr nary, and to thank you for the many valuable sug-
gesti and contained in it, to which his lordship will give
full consideration.-1 am, sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) E. C. MUNDY.
D. (. Edwards, Esq., F.R.C.S.

RAIL WA Y INTELLIGENCE.

NORTH BRITISH.

The adjourned meeting of this company to receive the
report of the scrutineers, appointed at the meeting of
the 20te, as to the motionof the chairman for the adop-
tion •of the report, which was carried by a large majority
of the votes of shareholders present, took place at Edin-
burgh on Tuesday. Mr. Hodgson presided.
It was intimated that the. two pairs of scrutineers had
differed on various technical objections taken to the
proxies, and had found it necessary to make separate re-
ports. The report of Messrs. Douglas and Allan stated
that the proxies lodged amounted in all to 1,522, of which
543 were used in support of the chairman's motion, and
979 against the motion. Of the latter, 54 had no votes at
all, 70 were altered in date, or the names of the granters
changed, and several not found on the registry at all ;
310 did not give the year of the meeting for which the
proxy was granted, nor state the date properly. A large
number of proxies authenticated for use in 1852 appeared
with the .figure. 2 altered to 5. The scrutineers wire
confident that a large number of the proxies, as well as
the votes, were in support of the chair Man's motion.
The report of Messrs. Chaytor and Bateman stated
that on both sides a great number of technical objections
had been made. On the whole, they did not think that
more than 12 of the proxies were really bad, arising
from wrong names or insufficient identity. Their deci-
sion was, that there had voted for the motion—present,
1,109 ; proxies, 7,428 ; making 8,537 votes ; and for
the amendment—to disapprove the report and grant the
is. dividend—present, 265 ; proxies, 8,819 ; making
9,084 voter; leaving a balance in favour of the amend-
ment of 547 votes.

The CHAIRMAN decided that his motion was carried
by a considerable majority of the votes Of the share-
holders. If he was wrong, it was for the law courts to
correct him.

Mr. SKINNER protested against the chairman's de-
cision.

A dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. on the guaranteed
stock was then agreed to.
The meeting then proceeded to the election of direc-
tors in the room of Messrs. Kinloch, Chaytor, and
Brook. Mr. Kinloch was re-elected unanimously, and
for the two remaining seats six candidates were named,
and votes taken. Messrs. Jewett, of Leeds, and Bow-
man, of Newcastle, were ultimately declared elected.

IC wag then agreed that the next half-yearly meeting
be held in London.

The meeting then separated.

CALEDONIAN.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held in
Glasgow on Tuesday ;-Mr. W. Johnstone in the chair.
The report, an abstract of which has appeared in The
Sun, was taken as read.

The CELAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
explained that although the revenue had shown an in-
crease of 27,8211., the working expenses, interest on
loanF, and dividends on preference shares bad shown an
increase of 27,5001., so that there was no increase for
dividend on the ordinary stock. During the last half-
year they could have carried more goods and more mine-
rals, and thus have increased the revenue to a consider-
able extent, bad they had more plant and engine
power. He then adverted to the competition existing
between them and the- Edinburgh and Glasgow Com-
pany, and stated that the latter company bad done
everything in their power to take traffic from the
Caledonian at all points at reduced rates. In conclusion,
he stated that committees had been appointed by the
Southern and Northern Companies, as well as by the
Edinburgh and Glasgow and Caledonian Companies, to
endeavour to adjust the questio❑ of traffic, and he hoped
they would be successful.
An amendment against the running of Sunday trains
was then proposed, on which the vote being taken, the
.amendment was lost, by a majority of 25 to 15.
Mr. GrLow, after a lengthened address, moved that
the matters of dispute between the Edinburgh and Glas-
gow and Caledonian hallways be referred to arbi-
tration.

Mr. BUCALLuIki said, on examining the weekly re-
turns of the Caledonian line, he found that had the
agreement between the two lines been still in existence,
so great was the increase on the Caledonian that they
would have required to pny over about GOO/. weekly
to the Edinburgh and Glasgow ; and, as an amend-
ment to Mr. Gilow's motion, he proposed a vote of
thanks to the directors for the spirited manner in which
they had acted in the matter, and that they still be em-
powered to make an amicable arrangement between the
two companies.
This amendment was carried by a large majority.
A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceed-
ings.