THE HOSPITAL STAFF.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10818, 8 December 1902, Page 5

THE HOSPITAL STAFF.

' TO THfi SDITOE. . , Sir, — Some minds are so constituted that they "are incapable of acknowledging the c possibility of any generosity or self-aacrl- . fice in another. Guaging all actions and - motives by their own standard, they make "oui' bono", the rule and measure of life. vVhom doth it advantage? — this is ever ' the first question they put to themselves in scrutinising tile conduct of . other people. And, mistaking this sinister spint of carping' jealousy for mental acumen, such folk, "when they write to the press, usually adopt a "nora de guerre" indica- , tive of some aspect of perspicuous wisdom. Your correspondent "Anti-Humbug," who writes, in » manner that makes one think he -is directly inspired by some member pf the Hospital Board, seeks to interpret all -the -actions of the medical staff on the above principle. ' The medical staff render their services gratuitously to the Hospital; therefore they must therein be seeking "merely, their private advantage, and - doing this work only for-.the sake of the. experience, and practice it affords: In the ■ name of common Sense, sir, why is the 'medical profession to be ,^fce onlj? --i^ao. .where it is worth while thus 'to give gratuitous labour for tho sake of experience^? • Will the lawyer undertake, a oaso-'.for nothing, and be content .with the experience? Will the shoemaker make you .& pair of shoes, or the tailor a. coat merely for the sake of practice? No; and the doctor, too, wants more than this, and gets it — the consciousness of good, wor^k done in helping one of our noblest charitable institutions. One thing- further lie „ would like, but does not get; and that is common civility and gentlemanly .. treatment from the 'Board, and. maybe some verbal acknowledgment, of his 'services. Why, Dr Connolly, after many years* work, was allowed to retire without even«a word, much less'a vote of thanks. Ignored and flouted, their services taken .as a matter almost of right, is it wonderful that they . should draw the line at a t direct 'insult? That' they should object to their perfeirffy reasonable request being met by such terms as boycotting, robbery, Jyrsnjajg?, They ask that the resident house surgeon shall be pledged not to practice in Wanganui within three years of his appoint- ' ment. Is this .so very tyrannous? Com- - pare it again with the practice of the legal . profession. What lawyer, in engaging a, '-' qualified managing clerk, omits,, to bind.,, him over not to practice in opposition- to him in his own town or district? It is indeed a common, practice in all trades and professions. .And in this particular case, > were the Board not .as wooden. a$ its name, ■ it would realise that the request of the staff makes as much in favour .of .the Hospital as of the local medical* profession, .. in as much as whatever tends to permanency in the office of house surgeon must, if the appointment is a fitting one, be for the benefit of all concerned with the Hospital. As for their request to be consulted as to such appointment, - 1 should think it goes 'without saying 'that a pro- ' fessional man is a better judge qf the ' qualifications of an applicant than is a person appointed by the Board mainly for the excellence 1 of his judgment in • the , matter of , roads. Hoping, against hope, that the Hospital Board may ,y«t take an enlightened view of this matter.— l *m, etc., , • ) ..... „-„.-, ,■• t i , ARCLEPIADES. n<: