FIGHTING DOCTORS.

Inangahua Times, Volume V, Issue 35, 15 March 1878, Page 2

FIGHTING DOCTORS.

Iteconlovcnfs, observes tho Scotsman in an Rriiclo which appeared befuro llio full of Plevna, should toud to direct lit* lonfcion anew to tlio wtiy in which the neutrality of England is being com pro* niisod by iho vo'untoor aid given to bolh< tho I'olliiivrmls iv the East in tho shnpo both of fighting nml of curative power. The very natural feeling of horror exo ted !>y Osmnn Pasha's expulsion of tho JUnii" lish doctors from L'lorn.i, at a timo when medical assistance wns- urgently noedod, ought not to blind us to tho toul morits of llio very nioo questions of interim* ionnl law which tho circumstances involve. Tho Turkish general's motive is made abundantly plain by tho faot that he sent nvay from Plevna not only the doctors who ottered t hoi r asaistiiuoe, hut also thewounded whom they wished (a succour. Osinan Pasha o'-j'^cta to Ktusinn prisoners and to- Turkish wounded on preoisoly tho sanio ground— thai they booomo an inconvenient burden ;. and ho objects to English doctor* because they would inorouso tho drain on his resources, an I make tho burden. grouter.. Th« question, howovor,. whothor tho English dioors had nny right bo bo thcro is wholly indo* pendent of thoso considerations. It is very diflicult to view that question with* outgiving way to sentiment „and. and nothing is moro certain than thai,, if sentiment is yielded to, the view taken of the matter will bo a fnlso one.. Any man or nny < nation that sends to a belligerent in the field mod ion I aid and surgical stores, or money whorcwith to purchase those, becomes bis ally ns truly ns if tho mass of tho nation equipped and sent to his aid a corps of fighting inon. Whether you send men to help to kill Russians or to euro Taiks tho end i» tho same—fr> strengthen tlio Turks and to foil tho Russians. Put Turks for Russians, nod Uuasians tor Turks, and tho proposition isof courso, equally sound. Tho- eorrootness of this viow of tho caso has received striking confirmation within the last few days, in tho instances which havo come to light of English volunteers appearing in iho doublo rolo of sorgennt nnd siirgoon. They aro Prco lancers ono day and Free* Innoots another ; and whother they aro killing, or curing they are equally happy, provided they are kept in work. Tho effdrts and Iho ondurnnco of Dr Kyan at Plovna nro no doubt worthy of all praise. Still, ono could' not but wonder how tho Turks, in spito of their contempt for dootors, should hnvo come to regard him* on account of his surgical skill, ns tho " hero of Plovnn." Tho Times correspondent at Bigot, telegraphing last week clears up tho mystory. Ho snys, on tl oauthority of Dr Douglas, Hint" on Iri>lv surgoon, namod Ryan, in tho Turkish scrvieo, used to employ himself in lending tho troops when not othorwiso occupiod, and Osmnn Pasha • declared that wns tho kind of doctor ho wanted and he did not Beo tho uso of nny other.' " Thus our iElsculnpius could becomo " Bellow'sbridegroom," when so inclined, nnd was ready lo oboy tho onll " to arms" in whatever form it) enmo to him. Hut whethor ho woro tho crescont on his slccvo, or tollowod it to- tho field, tho conclusion is inevitable that ho wns quite ns much Turk ns philanthropist. It is useloss t> d«cry tho luhumauity of ullowiu^ tho pooc

iVllows to wrtlio in Hgotiv (ov lank of c'lloruform and lint. Is th«ro »ot mi .interior iiihuuiantiy in nl losing tho poor |'o'lo«<i to bo motfo'l d.>wu wtta ounaati. balls in tho liold f aivl shuttered to .inroco«nisablo atoms by shrannel in tlio-'-ouches f Hie ftnw funoii.xi. of ham inify in, this ov»so k to prevonb tho slaug'»tor r a.d not merely to- nttoinpt to cu-o wlwro it has failed* of its intent. In any aa*o it should l^ cloiirlv understood that v doctor is us much an offretivo ally a« ft ootonol— the oiw shoul.l not bo treated as an unlucky p'lictitioner, and tho othor as a prisoner of war. Tlioso who beomo volnnieors in any shaposhould bo prepared 6o tnko tlio eousequences. SJirailarly,. onolt I nation should bo propurod^ and bo mado--1 to bear tho whole burden of its own war : because no ono onn- lighten that burdenin any (orm without sharing in iB r«i."poi^ibility, and becoming a partner in its truili. I ■"" ■" " , -'