MEDICAL MAN ATTACKED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3184, 7 September 1917, Page 4

MEDICAL MAN ATTACKED

A CHALLENGE TO Bli. THACKEK. Soino remarks were mado in the House recently about tho professional <|iialifiwitions of a military medical officer in Christchuroh, Lieutenant-Colonel T. A. Mac Gibbon. Sir James Allen, Minister of defence, referred to this attack on Dr. Mac Gibbon yesterday. Dr. Thicker had said, he believed, that Dr. Mac Gibbon was an eye, ear, nose, and throat specialist, and that lie knew nothing about the anatomy of the body. Dr. Mac Gibbon took first-class honours in Edinburgh ■University in Anatomy, and won the practical anatomy medal with 93 and % per cent, the teacher being Professor It, J. A. Berry, late of Edinburgh and now of Melbourne University. For two years recently he held the position of Examiner in Analoaiy it the Otago University. Jic was a First-class Honours man in most subjects of Edinburgh University, and was for three years in a pood practice m Hawera, and held the Government Hospital besides. Seven years ago his health forced him to give up general practice and take to his present work. lie was considered good enough, after passing, with honours, F.Ii.C.S. Edinburgh, to bo offered an assistant surgeonship in St. Andrew's University. , Kegarding his military work, ho had held a commission in the N.Z.M.C. smeo 1!W8, and had been connected with the No. 3 Field Ambulance, and held command of the No. G Mounted Field Ambulance. His squad took two firsts at theAuckland Tournament held three years ago, and he had Riven, owing to his consulting hours being definite, a '^F", 6 amount of time to ambulance work, which ho made his hubby.

"I desire to say," added Sir .TainM 'Allen, "that if Dr. Thacker desires tr> make outside the House, the statements he has niade in the House, and under the protection of the House, the matter will be brought under the notice of tho British Medical Council in London.' , . Dr. Thacker made a personal explanation. "What I said about Dr. Mac Gibbon," he said, "was that ho did not know anything about military efficiency. I didn't say anvthing about anatomy. Sir James Allen, Mr. Fraer, i-nd others: "Oh, yes. you did." Dr. Thacker: No. I did not. I Raid ]\a ;v'\= iiM eye, ear, and throMffoeciaUsr. All T wish 'to Bay further is that this Dr. Mac Gibbon. or Colonel MacCiiblxin. so-called, forced into camp two men named and who nave broken Sir James Allen: I hope these attacks in tho House on men 'outside of - tho House will .not be continued. I don t think they are very honourable things to do, and I think it is my duty, so far 'as I can, to protect officers in mv Department from these attacks when I can. (Hear, hear.) ~. ~ Dr: Thacker: And. Mr. Speaker. I think it is my duty to protect the public.