MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11472, 26 February 1918, Page 8

MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS.

CHARGES BY DR TFIAGEER. j

REPORT OF COURT OF INQUIRY.

For Pres? Association. Wellington, Fob. 28. The report of the Court of Inquiry sot uo hy the officer commanding: the Canterbury military district to

•investigate charges brought against various medical examiners hy Dr H. T. .T. Thicker, that they had been insulting to recruits, has been presented. It states that four cases wore at first enumerated hy Dr Thacker, who is n captain of the reserve. but when the inquiry commenced. and tho Court requested tuiv persons with complaints to hr hi £ thorn forward other. o j scs were I brought under notice. Of tlm cases mind iouod in Dr Thacker's telegram to tlm Minister for Defence on December U. only two were brought up at the inquiry, these being complaints hy Woods and Burrows, which, in rhe. opinion of Mm Court, did not justify the allegation that the military medical examiners had been insulting to tlm roevnits. Tim two other cases adduced by Dr Thacker in support of his general charges against medical examiners were those of McAmilt-y and Cooper, which ware in to Mm opinion of Mm Court;, of *: trivial nature.

•‘The complaint of McAnnlty, ” says tlm report ‘'appears trivial The reservist was app ivntly antagonistically disposed towards the examining board because his medical certificate was nor. accepted immediately as a reason for excusing further examination. Tlm examination appears to have been conducted with all duo regard tomiilitary requirements end the feelings of the reservist.’ ’

In the case of Bugler Burrows, the Court states: “Colonel MacGibbon may hive exceeded Ids powers in ordering Burrows not to visit Dr Thacker, but the order did not in itself constitute an insult. Colonel McGibbon made it a condition of his. Burrow's, release from detention that lie should not visit Dr Thacker.

Regarding the case of P. T. M«cnamara, the report says: “lias man is of a nenous, highly-strung disposition, and the medical officer was possibly ill-advised in making audible ‘asides’ to his colleagues, which might be misconstrued. Many reservists appear armed with certificates, which they believe will exempt them from service, and think they have a grievance when these are'not immediately accepted. Tins lias been fomented in some cases by Dr Thacker, whoso conduct as an officer of the reserve, may be regarded as subversive of military discipline.’ The Court stares in conclusion. “Considering the antagonistic at-

titude of mind that medical ex.miu ers have often to deal with, ami considering the large number of men they have examined without any complaint being lodged, the Court considers that, as a whole, they have acted with ."judgment and forbearance. ”