Army Medical School, Netley.

Date:
[1879]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Army Medical School, Netley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    3$ 2 population of our colonies, and of India ; nor can he have failed to observe how great is its capacity for even extended utility. For my own part, I have always longed to see it take a much more prominent part than it does at present in the education and final training of our young medical officers, and I hope the time may come when it will extend its instruction to a greater number, and over a longer period of time to each individual. Among many rumours that have gone abroad in relation to impending changes in the medical service, there has been one that pointed to the abolition of the school altogether. I can hardly believe that a step so fatal to the best interests of the service should have ever been contemplated, or that if it had, it would ever have been carried into effect. I believe that no such future awaits it, but that it will rather increase in importance and extend its usefulness; that it will not only continue to maintain its present position as a great army and naval medical school, but I even hope that, as a sort of medical staff college, it will become more and more the resort of medical officers, who may here have the oppor- tunity of renewing their knowledge, of keeping themselves abreast of the rapidly-advancing progress of medical science, and of fitting themselves for those special appointments that are so frequently occurring in the services, especially in India. Times have been unfavourable of late years with the medical services, and many reasons have been assigned for the decadence. This is neither the place nor the time to discuss them or their results, especially when we have every reason to hope and believe that a better prospect is near. This only I would say, that the position of the military or naval medical officers ought to be such as to command an abundant supply of the Mite of our universities and medical schools, and that it will do so when certain obstacles, which there is reason to hope will be removed, are out of the way. Gentlemen, I believe a good time is coming, and I trust you will prove yourselves equal to support and do it credit when it arrives ; and here I may say to you, what perhaps one not of your own service and profession neither could nor would say, that as some of the difficulties which have stood in the way of progress may have originated in the service itself, how greatly it behoves you all to see that such difficulties should in future be avoided. Important public duties involving great responsibility, if performed by men of education who are of accord in maintaining their self- respect and the dignity of their office in a spirit of unselfish loyalty, must command public esteem and respect, and must also bring social and official consideration and standing. Wanting these attributes, however high the esteem in which individuals may be held, that esteem will not be extended to them collectively as a service. I can imagine nothing better calculated than the training at FTetley to imbue, foster, and develop that spirit, with- out which there can be no sustained well-being or real stability in any public service. These are merely hints. 1 leave it to you to make the application.