A letter to Mr. Keate, Surgeon-General to the Forces / [Robert Jackson].

  • Robert Jackson
Date:
1808
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter to Mr. Keate, Surgeon-General to the Forces / [Robert Jackson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    y profession in a respectable neighbourhood where I bore a fair reputation, was equal if not superior to the appoint¬ ment of physician to the forces. But, as I have men¬ tioned on other occasions that the investigation of fever was a subject which occupied my attention, and, as I knew I should have a better opportunity * of prosecuting my views in the army than in civil life, I offered to serve as army physican with the troops which were collecting for an expedition destined for the West Indies, in the month of September 1793. Mr. Hunter was then surgeon ge¬ neral : I was not eligible to the physician's rank according to his rule ; for I had never borne a medical commission,—• consequently my offer was not accepted. My purpose, * in offering service, was principally a professional pur¬ suit ; I therefore presented myself again as ready to take the surgeoncv of a regiment destined for the West Indies, on the condition of being appointed physician on the lirst proper occason. This was sinking rank and foregoing emo¬ lument for the sake of a professional object. The Buff was offered and accepted: the half pay of ensign was sunk; and, thus sunk, it wras a price or equivalent for the surgeoncy obtained: hence it cannot, as you infer, be said in strict propriety that 1 received the surgeon's commission for no¬ thing. The destination of the Buff was changed : it did not go to the West Indies with Sir Charles Grey as w^as intended, and I was disappointed. You were then in- spector of regimental infirmaries, and I recollect to have written to you, stating that 1 would willingly exchange with the surgeon of any of the regiments actually going with Sir Charles Grey's expedition.—You returned for answer that you did not know of any surgeon who wras disposed to exchange ; but you observed to me that, if I would resign the surgeoncy of the Buff, you would re¬ commend me for hospital mate, and assign me a station in
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