The dearth of naval surgeons is much murmured at on the sickly station of Jamaica, where, we are sorry to learn, that the yellow fever is adding more victims to the list of those who fall in performing their duties to the sick.

Several ships are without their full complement, and it is said that one ship of war, the MINSTREL, has been sent to cruise off Jamaica without a medical officer. The frigate PHOEBE, about to sail from Plymouth for the West India station, has not, by last advice, received her proper number of assistant-surgeons.

It is to be inferred that the confidence of the profession in the will of the naval authorities to act liberally towards it is not yet completely restored.

The terms and conditions of retirement after long service seem to weigh heavily on the judgement of young medical men, who have far brighter prospects open to them in civil life and in other departments of public life.

(British Medical Journal - 1867)

^ back to top ^