CORRESPONDENCE.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1888, 11 August 1874, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE THiMES HOSPITAL. MA.ISTAGEOTT. To tlie Editor of tho Tiumss Amkrhshr. Sir,—Had tlie ''resiientof the fuameß Hospital not been absent, lie would, [ am sure, have aoticd fcae remarks wKicd have appeared in your evening contemporary regarding tne late meeting of tlie uonnnitte-i. On account of the murepresedation of facts ia tnese remir<i, ['feel it to be ray duty to give a correct state-' meat respecting tlie actiou which, was taken by the Committee. Ia tlie Eueiiiug Star of Thursday last, the Committee are represented as ignoring the charges against the Hospital Management in a letter in the columns of that newspaper, on tne grouud that it was anonymous; but as afterwards admitting the fallacy of their acumens by appointing a committee to inquire into the charges made ia the letter, dad the representation is Mowed by a statement that by this course some of tlie sapient committee are mide to look ridiculous, Now that represeatation is a long way from the truth. Cue facts are these. First.— Che Committee never changed their position ia regard to that letter, [t was their opinion at the first mat they could uot receive it; an I this continued to be their opinion to the end. 1 Second.—Che Committee did not appoint a co umiitee ot' investigation be 1 cause of the charges in the letter. Im 1 they could uoc nave done, for t u C >mmitteedidnot knov whit ciiirg-M wer? ■ ia the letter; it never was read; it was 1 set aside, aui ttiat s > complexly tnat tn > 1 Chairman, ia accirdaace with the mud of 1 the meeting, would not permit Vlr ! McOullougli <o make any allusion to it [ whatever. ' Third. —The Committee appointed a 1 committee ol inquiry baciuw thtt wheii ■ the reception of the letter .vas penis ' tently refused by the Committee, Mi MeCullougk himself took the position ol ! lodging a co uplamt against officials in the c Hospital. In the Chimbs ADvaarisEftoi " Saturday it is intimated that two mem 1 bers of the Hospital Committee- had re r quested it to be stated that action hac " been tiken by the Committee, because 3 Mr Mc Jullough made ciarges agiinst 6 the offieiab. Ia the Star of the same daj a it is said that Mr Mc Jullough did no 0 thing of the kiud. Xow to make a chargi 0 of neglect agiinst one is to lo Ige n com r plaint of neglect against him, nnd to a complaint of neglect is to make a chargi 8 of ueglect. Chere is no us'e of quibbling e about a word. Mr McCullough statei ? that on'investigation he had obtained d sufficient ground to warrant him to lodge d a complaint, lad Mr vlcJullough nol d assumed this p>sition the Committee (anc d no one knows this better than M a VlcOullough himself) would have takea m action ia the matter whatever. lt Chese being tho facts of ihe cise, it ii ie altogether uni'air to represent the Com le mittee as reacting the letLer at first ant lt! then receiving it -as appointing a com miitee because of the charge ' e in the letter -and Mr McCullough a H having made no charge agaiast tho Hos n ' pital management. I do not say v[ 'S McCullough did wrong ia taking tho pos '° tion of complainaat. Oa the coatrarj from the knowledge he possessed, he die I believe, what was perfectly rignt, an 18. [ have no doubt the antter will b I 1? 'horong'ily sifted. But Ist it be mulei or stood by the tar -mil by r.iu- pu'nic t-m ll - the investigation was resohvd oi.ionu( he count of the complaiit lodged by Vl ii), .VleCullough, and not ia the slighte: 'ft degree by the letter ia tho Star. CI 'to opinion of the Committee was tbi al iliev could not ,tub' any notice of i na * • $ monymius l'tier m a .levspjp Du and I »ni sure the public wi iul ' thoroughly ooinoide with that opinion. Committee are appointed to conduct fcl

fairs of the institution; and if pitients 1 fri"nds of patients have any complaint i make, it is their duty to communicate ith that Committee. If such choose to nore the existence of the Committee id send anonymous le f tf>.rs to a n-?vt-iper, both tim? and self-res icct deman I lat'the Go:iimittee should take no notice ? the epistle. I have to say. in con- . uding, that it is the work of a public iurnal to ascertain facts before professing »give an aecount of th«m; and its duty i refrain from placing the committee of public body in a ridiculous pisi'ion ithout the slightest eause. When an nposite course is followed it is not ifficult to see in what quarter it is that ipience is wanting. -Yours, &c. _ James Hill, Vice President. ,