Page:McCosh, John - Advice to Officers in India (1856).djvu/163

 fail?) what promotion and royal honours do for his brother officer of the line. The fortunes of individuals are often influenced by accidents, and that of departments appears subject to the same laws; and I have often thought that it would have been better for the profession, had Marlborough or Wellington suffered the amputation of an arm or a limb upon the field of battle, and under fire.

The spirit of army discipline seems to be to place the Surgeons in a subordinate position in all public duty. When a medical officer is tried by court martial upon matters entirely medical, such a thing as one or two medical officers being members of the court, is unheard of; and yet it would contribute greatly to the efficiency of such a court that they should form part of it. Even in courts of inquest, where the opinion of the Surgeon is paramount, he must hold a place subordinate to a young ensign as president. Indeed, he is generally ordered to attend the court of inquest and give in his report for the comment of the young ensign.

Even in the article of dress, army surgeons have been treated with indignity. About four years ago, Assistant-surgeons wore the dress of lieutenant, and Surgeons that of captain of the regiment to which they were posted. But as the occasional change of regiments entailed the expense of a change of uniform,it was ordered that