INDIAN MEDICAL STAFF.
To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."
SIR,—In the Spectator of the 30th of July last there are a few remarks on the state of the Indian medical services, evidently written under a misapprehension of the facts of the case, and calculated (unintentionally I am sure) to injure the cause of Indian medical officers by making it appear that they are putting forth unreasonable claims.
"Medical officers," it is said, "have already the full pay of their rank. Are they to have more, and so excite the jealousy of the combatant branch ?"
The writer who puts this question either must be unaware that all military officers in India holding regimental or other Staff appointments draw Staff salaries in addition to the "full pay of their rank," or he must suppose that medical officers do so like- wise.
But though it is true that within the last three months the pay of rank has been conceded to medical officers, the Staff salaries they formerly received have at the same time been withdrawn. More than this, while the pay of rank is granted the pension of rank is withheld.
All that medical officers claim is to be put in both these respects on the same footing with their military brethren. This claim can afford no reasonable ground for jealoasy, and until it is fairly admitted Sir Charles Wood will, I suspect, have to recruit the Indian medical services (as Dr. Gibson seems content to do for the British Army) with "good tYrl-class men."—Yours
Previous page
