Indian Medical Service past and present.

  • Beatson, William Burns.
Date:
1902-03
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Indian Medical Service past and present. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    in 1764 the Indian Medical Service has increased in numbers and repute, till it has become one of the most honourable and honoured services in the Empire. It is noticeable that in the year 1783 the strength of the service rose from 40, at which it was first fixed, to about 150. The twenty years which saw this increase were co- incident with the spread of the English government over the kingdom of Mysore in Southern India, and over the whole of Bengal, Behar, and Orissa in the Norlh, which necessitated a large increase in the establishment of every service, military and civil. After the great recruitment in 1783, there was, of course, a lull, but appointments continued to be made up to 1856, when the number admitted had attained its maximum. In the sad year of 1857 the service was greatly reduced by death and retirements, and its usefulness was curtailed by the many disbandments of the old Sepoy regiments which then took place. A constant supply of medical officers with British regiments poured into the country, and the Indian Medical Service became in a great measure super- fluous. In i860, therefore, it was temporarily closed, and for five years remained unrecruited. But by 1865 it had become evident that a Medical Service composed of men highly educated both professionally and generally was for India an absolute necessity. The re-opening of the services in 1865 was followed in 1880 by an order which caused some trepidation in the minds of newly-joined officers. Under orders received from the Secretary of State, the Right Honourable the Governor-General in Council was pleased to direct that from March 31 the British Army Medical Department and the Indian Medical Department should form one for the medical administration of the army in the three Presidencies. At the same time the number of administrative medical appointments was reduced. This order was at the time regarded by some as a death- stroke to the Indian Medical Service. It was really a