MR J. J. RAMSAY AND THE HOSPITAL.

Evening Star, Issue 11695, 29 September 1902, Page 2

MR J. J. RAMSAY AND THE HOSPITAL.

TO THE; EDITOR. Hie re Pb’ of Mr J. J. Ramsay in to-night-s issue is very unsatisfactory, and far mo flippant in tone. After recklessly levelling serious charges against two-men holding important positions, • and after giving one of tmm the he direct, Mr Ramsay, when he is cornered, tries to escape by quoting the superannuated story about, the tailors, and then, after bowing his thanks to his numerous admirers, he swaggers off the stage ni the most approved swashbuckler fashion. Ee compares himself to Den Quixote, but Falstalf or Tucca or Sir Lucius 0 Trigger would have been a far more suitable comparison. It- is just as well that Mr Ramsay should bo made to feel the seriousness of the position into which he has put himself. To a medical man reputation means everything, and it is a serious thing for him to be made Uis butt of the loose talent of the daily Press. Ho is, moreover, as a rule, slow to defend himself fir print, and this Mr Ramsay has unfortunately found cut. Let us consider, then, for a moment Mr Ramsay’s charges. Tho first is that Mtßrido was never seen by the doctor in charge. This Mr Ramsay repeated on contradiction. Now, when the charge has been clearly disproved, Mr- Ramsay says that he meant that the case was not properly examined by the doctor in charge—“ it was only diagnosed.” Now, even if we grant that Mr Ramsay thoroughly understands the requirements of a mc-iical examination, how can he pretend to criticise an examination that ho was not present at? I think Mr Ramsay ought to add to hia three tailors a New Zealand one who could measure a man if somebody else had seen ihe corner he had gone round. The^ second charge is that MDride was dismissed too soon from the hospital. Now, 1 would like to point out that M‘Bride's condition when he was seen by Mr Ramsay and by you, sir, would depend to n great extent on the care which he had taken of himself luring the time which had elapsed since Ins discharge. It is notorious that many of the returned troopers have been very careless of themselves in the matter' of their health. Mr Ramsay exclaims dramatically that, this poor fellow was sent out —perhaps to die. And vet even Mr Ramsay bad no objection to offer to liis travelling- to Naasby! If ho was able to do this without his nurse he cannot have been in such a desperate condition. If he was dismissed from hospital sooner than was necessary, it was probably to make room for a more serious case. But even if the house surgeon did commit an error of judgment in this case, does Mr Ramsay seriously expect us to believe that it was deno with the intention of iil-creating a soldu r of the King? Or was it sufficient to justify Mr Ramsay in writing in the way that lie has done? "What makes Mr Ranisay's conduct still blacker is the fact that a relative of bis had quite recently received great kindness and attention in hospital from the very man he is now maligning; but it is pleasing to be able to state that he is not one of those who aro congratulating Mr Ramsay on his plucky and disinterested action.

Mr Ramsay states that he has not been hysterical; that he Aid not hit below the belt. No one said he did; qui s’excuse s’accuse. He says further that he has been actuated solely by motives of patriotism. Perhaps he has, but there are different definitions of patriotism. Dr Johnson said on one occasion that patriotism was the last refuge of a scoundrel. By this he did not mean a real and generous love of one’s country, bnt that pretended patriotism which so many in all ages and countries have made a cloak for self-interest. Boswell named one patriot who was honest. “Sir,” said the great doctor, “I do not say that he is net honest, but we have no reason to conclTide from his political conduct' that he is honest.” -— I am, etc., Verb. Sap. September 25.