very useful players. In previous years many may have thought that they would not be wanted, but this year the support of every member of the school will be needed, if a team, good enough to keep the cups, is to be got together.

G. C. Birt accomplished a very fine performance by coming in first in the ten-mile inter-hospital cross-country race. But the cup went elsewhere, for not another man from this hospital started. It seems incredible that a school, as large as St. Thomas's, can not raise a team. We hope to see an improvement next year.

Dr. Fairbairn's plea for a period of in-patient instruction in clinical obstetrics will be fresh in the memories of readers of this Gazette. In this connection it is of interest to note that facilities for obtaining experience in midwifery are available for Edinburgh Students. In the current number of The Student will be found some account of the Edinburgh Maternity Hospital, and of the opportunities which it affords to fourth year men of attending cases of difficult labour. Stress is rightly laid on "the large number of abnormal cases that the student has the opportunity of seeing within the Hospital. Abnormalities are frequent; during each quarter practically every complication known in midwifery occurs, many of them more than once . . In fact the student has clinical instruction in Midwifery, comparable to the Clinical Medicine and Clinical Surgery of the Royal Infirmary." The value of such a course is obvious, and the advantage would be greater still, if it could be taken as an introduction to and preparation for obstetric work in the district.

The following letter has been received at the Hospital:

"I have received a copy of Mr. Stephen Coleridge's Metropolitan Hospitals and Vivisection in consequence of which I beg to enclose a cheque for £1 1s. to St. Thomas's Hospital." Will others please copy?

*

Particulars of the proposed excursion of English Medical students to Paris and other French Towns, may be obtained in the library on application to Dr. Rendle. Every opportunity will be given for the study of the French Hospital system. The start is fixed for April the 18th, and the party will return to London on

the 29th. We quote from the Official Prospectus-"Everywhere the English party will be friendly received, and they will be shewn everything that may extend their intellectual knowledge." And there is to be recreation too, for "The English Medical Students are expected by their French fellows, who are getting ready to fraternize with them."

Applications should be made without delay to M. Etienne Bazot, 184, Rue de Rivoli, Paris.

On the prospects of the R.A.M.C. as a Career for

Young Medical Men.

Gentlemen,

When it was suggested to me some time ago that I should read a paper before this Society on the prospects of Service in the R.A.M.C. as a career for young medical men, I accepted the flattering offer in a lighthearted way without, I am afraid, at all considering what I had undertaken and thinking that anyhow November was a long way off.

It was only when I sat down to my task that I began to realise, first that it is no slight responsibility to advise a number of young men as to their future professional career, and secondly, that for an individual officer to set forth publicly the advantages and disadvantages of the Corps to which he belongs, necessitates some careful thinking and accuracy in writing, lest he should be accused of undue bias.

However, being committed to the venture, there is nothing left for me but to go forward trusting to your kind consideration to overlook all defects. At any rate I can promise that I shall set before you a "round unvarnished tale" and in the words of Othello, Nothing extenuate nor set down aught in malice."

66

To speak of the life of a military surgeon within the walls of St. Thomas' Hospital must inevitably recall to the memories of all present, the striking figure of one of the greatest military surgeons

of modern times.

Sir William MacCormac must have been known personally to all except the very youngest of you, and it would be an impertinence on my part to attempt to enlarge on the debt which Surgery in general and Military Surgery in particular owes to his skill and genius, but I should like most respectively to testify to the very deep feeling of respect and affection with which he was regarded in the A.M. Corps. From his unrivalled experience in the great European campaigns as to what war on a large scale really means, he was of course the most renowned critic and authority of military surgery and administration; yet on more than one occasion he did not hesitate to use both voice and pen in our behalf when he considered that the Army Medical Department was unfairly blamed for not achieving impossibilities.

It was my good fortune to meet him on several occasions when I was filling a subordinate position in the medical division of the War Office, and I could not speak in this Hall to-night without mentioning his name and referring most gratefully to the unvarying kindness which he always extended to me and my brother officers.

But St. Thomas' has sent out many other students who have attained distinction as military surgeons. The Army Medical Corps during the South African War was reinforced by several consulting surgeons, and surgeons, whose names are well known to youMr. Makins, Mr. Osborn, Mr. Wallace, and many others, while at least 30 of the civil surgeons employed belonged to this Hospital.

Of those who have adopted the Army Medical Corps as a career, the following are a few taken at random :

G. W. Robinson, specially promoted for good service in the Soudan at Atbara and Khartoum, lately commanding the Depot at Aldershot,

Guise Moores, now in the Scots Guards, who is doing all the surgical work at the Connaught Hospital, Aldershot,

F. A. Harris, now unfortunately retired, who served all through the South African Campaign.

Whiston of the Irish Guards, who served for seven years in Egypt, and took part in all the recent operations in that country including the capture of Khartoum.

Pinches, Butterworth, Bent, and many others whom I have had the pleasure of meeting at one time or another in past years.

You see, therefore, that St. Thomas' has contributed many good men and true in the past and many are still serving in the present and now what are you going to do in the future? To this you will naturally reply, "What are you going to do for us if we come?"

That is the question I am here to-night to answer, and I am reminded of the advice of the excellent Ringmaster when he was taken to see "Hamlet "Let's cut the cackle and get to the 'osses."

Well in the first place let us deal with the pay, and in doing so please do not imagine that I am insinuating that St. Thomas' men, or men of any University or School, look upon their profession simply or primarily as a matter of pounds, shillings and pence. I put it first because it is a concrete subject, which admits of exact description and can most easily be treated as a whole and then dismissed.

At the same time it would be absurd to undervalue it, as I presume that the number of men with large private means who study medicine is comparatively small, and that the great majority of students who enter this profession do so with the view of making their living by it.

Well, that is what you will do in the Army-you will make your living. You won't make a fortune. Bear that in mind! But you should be able to live in decency and comfort without being haunted by that black care (of debt) which Horace tells us sits behind the horseman.

The pay has recently been increased, especially in the junior grades where it wanted it badly; and I have no hesitation in saying that provided a young officer practises moderate economy and takes his fair share of Foreign Service, he can live if necessary, without any private income whatever, from the first day of his entering the

service.

I have put on the black board a statement by ranks of the total average income which officers receive in money or money's worth. I am obliged to put it this way as the income is made up of pay and allowances. The pay is the same everywhere except in India, but the allowances vary in different stations and at different times of the year. Sometimes the officer gets the thing itself and not the allowance in lieu. It stands to reason that if you get

quarters or soldier servants, forage or fuel and light, you cannot get the money allowances as well; and if you try you will be involved in a correspondence with the accountant.

In India the pay is at a consolidated rate in rupees and there are no allowances as a general rule. Here too the pay has lately been increased in the Junior ranks and what was undoubtedly a hardship for young officers has been removed.

In describing the amounts shewn in these Tables as the total average income, I should perhaps have stated that they represent the minimum in each grade; because while it is unlikely that under ordinary circumstances any officer should ever receive less, he might reasonably hope under certain conditions to receive more. This is a very comforting idea! In most Foreign Stations Colonial allowances are issued, or rebate on Customs duties. On Active Service, Field Allowance is granted and free Rations, and so on; but the most important of these extra emoluments are, for the Senior Officers charge pay, that is, additional pay for being in charge of a hospital at rates varying from 2s. 6d. to 10s. daily, according to the number of beds; and for Juniors Specialist pay at 2s. 6d. a day for Captains and Majors specially qualified in certain subjects. These additions were only granted by the latest Royal Warrant and are applicable to India as well as other stations at home and abroad.

Now to wind up this financial statement, which is perhaps somewhat dull, but which is certainly important; what is a man to look forward to when he leaves the service?

1st. An Officer may be permitted to retire after 3 years service and join the Reserve, receiving a small annual honorarium of £25.

After 9 years service (5 as Captain) there is a gratuity of £1,000. After 15 years service or 3 years as Major £1,800, and after 18 years. service or 6 years as Major £2,500. After 20 years comes the pension (a word as blessed as "Mesopotamia") of £1 a day, increasing to £1 2s. 6d. after 25 years service, or £1 5s. after 30 years. A Lt. Col. of the higher grade receives £1 7s. 6d. to £1 10s. according to service, a Colonel £1 15s., and a Surgeon General £2. To gain these higher pensions an officer must serve 3 years in the rank. Special provision is made for wounds, injuries, or disease contracted in and by the Service, and also for Widows and Orphans in case of death. I will not trouble you with details which vary

B