Genre:

Essay, Spoof

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Class, Education

Institutions mentioned:

Royal Navy

    Anticipates the proceedings of an inquest into the death of a seaman at the hands of assistant surgeon, Cooper Slice m.d. Includes testimony of Slice's superior, Dr Slash, who produces evidence against Slice. Slice explains his incompetence by complaining that he could not develop his knowledge of anatomy while living in the midshipman's berth. The 'President of the College of Surgeons' upholds the importance of constant medical study and the jury decides that the seaman died of a haemorrhage and attributes Slice's ignorance to poor working conditions.