Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, War

    Noting the small number of British soldiers engaged in active service, puzzles over an advertisement for temporary Army surgeons, placed in The Times by James B Gibson, Director-General of the Army Medical Department. Argues that the advertisement has been prompted by a 'surgeon-famine in the Army', caused by regulations which place educated medical practitioners in a subordinate position to 'a lad who is possibly a contemptible puppy'. Thinks that practitioners who do apply for these temporary positions must be engaged in 'unprofitable' practices, and anticipates the resentment felt by a 'gallant young officer' towards a surgeon who is not a snob but has been hired through an advertisement. Noting Charles North's statement that there had been six applicants for two hundred Army surgeon positions, hopes that, should he be injured in battle, Prince George (Duke of Cambridge) will be treated by one of these applicants.