Remarks on army surgeons and their works / by Charles Alexander Gordon.

  • Charles Alexander Gordon
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on army surgeons and their works / by Charles Alexander Gordon. 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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    cipal inspectors were discoiitiuiied; but in 1818 one of tliera was restored as professional assistant to the Director-General, and so continued until very recently, when the appointment seems to have been permitted to subside. In 1813 the grade of hospital mate was abolished on the staff, as it had previously been in regiments j it being replaced by that of hospital assistant, who, for the first time, attained the rank of commissioned officers. In 1824 various changes connected with the department were made, of winch I am able to record the following—namely, in the month of July it was directed that hospital sergeants should be appointed to battalions of Infantry at home and abroad, except India; and in October of the same year, the appointment of acting hospital assistant was discontinued, on the sergeants being nominated. In 1826 a very important step was taken by the Medical Board; an order was issued, instituting the examination of all assistant-surgeons prior to their promotion, with a view, as it was expressed, to ensuring to the army the regulated propor- tion of medical staff in the most efficient state. In 1830 considerable changes took place in the nomenclature of the different grades of medical officers. By warrant dated 27th July, the ranks of apothecary and hospital assistant were abolished, the latter officers receiving the designation of assis- tant surgeons; the title of physician to the forces was also dis- continued, the following being the designations introduced— namely, assistant surgeon, regimental surgeon, staff surgeon, assistant inspector of hospitals, deputy inspector general of hospitals, and inspector general of hospitals. In November, 1840, a warrant was published, dated the pre- ceding month, abolishing the rank of assistant inspector, and substituting the title of staff surgeon; and in 1841 this was further modified, the latter rank being divided into 1st and 2nd class. With regard to rates of pay, prices paid for stamps on com- missions, &c., for the various grades of the medical department, I am able to give the following information, obtained from the Army List for September, 1818, namely :— Director-General Principal Inspector Inspector of Hospitals Deputy-Inspector of Hospitals Physician Purveyor of Hospitals Deputy-Purveyor of Hospitals Surgeon Ditto after 20 years' service... Surgeon of a Eecruiting District , £ s. d. ]}Gv annum 2,000 0 0 1,200 0 0 per diem 1 17 11 » 1 3 9 0 19 0 • 0 19 0 » 0 9 6 )) 0 14 3 ;> 0 18 10 >> 0 10 0