THE HOSPITAL TRUSTEES.

Evening Star, Issue 11692, 25 September 1902, Page 1

THE HOSPITAL TRUSTEES.

TO THE SUITOR Sir, —It will be noticed that Dr Brown, in his letter to Mr J. N. Brown, does.not state that M'Bride was examined by Dr Ferguson, but simply that the latter doctor “ visited ” him and diagnosed his case. The hcuse surgeon adds “ that Dr Ferguson did . not consider it necessary to subject Trooper M'Bride to any further examination, the slighter forms of laryngitis being better drag nosed by the'sense, of hearing than that ol sight.” Yet Mr J. N. Brown actuallv publishes such a letter as -an answer to M'Bride’! charge that he a fortnight in the Dun- 1 edin Hospital ostensibly under Dr Ferguson’s care and was not visited by him. Truly, sir, it is hard to take such a reply seriously. I have been reminded by Dr Brown’s of Dr Ferguson’s method: of diagnosing a case and “seeing” a patient ol a story I once heard concerning a dispute between an English, a Scotch, and an Irish tailor as tci which of them was the most expert at taking a man’s measure. The .. Englishman was certain, he could take a man’s measure, if he saw him walk down the street. Scotty was equally certain be could take it if, ho saw him go round. a comer ; but Paddy capped all by asserting that he would “take a man’s unsure, sure, if he saw the comer he went round.” lam not a medical man, but to a layman’s mind there, is a good deal of the corner business in the method described by Dr Brown. I have no intention to reply to criticisms such as those of “ Citizen,” for the writer simply deals in personalities, and does not sign his name. In conclusion, permit me, through your columns, to thank the numerous friends in this City, and outside of it,, who have so kindly expressed their warm approval of my action in this matter. To them I can only say that I have done my best to perforin what I believed to. be a necessary public duty. It was forced on me, and I have hot shirked it, nor can anyone say that T have hit below the belt.' If my letters have the cff.ct,as I believe .they will, of causing some of theTnistees to realise that they are there • as servants ef .the public, and not as autocrats, I shall be quite content to be called a Don Quixote or anything else that mayafford a little balm to those who have bier hard hit.—T am, etc., '■ ' : Vr J, J. RaMSAY; September 24. , - - /y- .