The medical services / [Sir Andrew Macphail].

  • Andrew Macphail
Date:
1925
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The medical services / [Sir Andrew Macphail]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    In the beginning these two functions, the civil and the military, were combined in one ministerial person. It required nearly two years of war to disclose the fault. In the struggle for the mutual freedom of those two principles the Minister of Militia, determined to retain this form of bondage, first attacked that part of the army which is the medical service, and in time became unconsciously the abettor of those who in their anxiety to destroy the Gov¬ ernment, himself included, would in utter innocence of the inevitable consequences of their conduct destroy the army too. There is a military spirit, and there is a civilian spirit. The two are at enmity. All history is merely a record of the conflict, of the attempt to “civilise” what is military; but when this process of civilisation has accomplished its perfect work, then the military spirit, if it has not already perished, comes to the rescue, and civilisation is saved once more in spite of itself. The civilian justly and with reason fears and dislikes the “red coat,” before he becomes one himself. To hold the balance between the two, to avoid internal tyranny and escape domination from with¬ out, that is the eternal task of men who would be free. But the balance is so nice that the civilian at times will be found striving against the soldier even when both are straining towards a common end. In the old wars the strife was open. Marlborough and Wellington in purely military operations were thwarted by the civilian spirit operating by methods which earned the dubious designation of political. In this war also the old, and sound, instinct was revived. The Minister of Militia at the outbreak of war was the embodiment of the civilian spirit, wdiich operated too successfully by its concealment under the uniform of the soldier. In time, but not until the lapse of two years, it was discovered that the dual role was impossible, and the Minister resigned.
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