The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1869.

Dunstan Times, Issue 379, 23 July 1869, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1869.

Beneath the Tailc of Men entirely .t ust tlie pen is mightier than theswoßD

The subscribers to tlie Dnnstan Dir trict Hospital will very soon bo called upon to decide upon a question of great momen* the Election of a House Surgeon. It is now some live years since the last election, and, if we may judge from the amount ol interest displayed upon that occasion,' in the present there will he still more so That the best possible medical skill should be secured for the Hospital is a matter upon which there can be no two opinions, and subscribers, before recording their votes, should take seriously into consideration the responsibility of their position and the obligations they owe to society, and to the cause of humanity in particular. Ho personal consideration should be allowed to influence a vote, and the qualifications of each candidate should be correctly and satisfactorily ascer' tained, beyond the question of a doubt, before making a decision. Letters of application and certificates of skill must be severely scrutinised, so that no difficulty may arise, as was the case some few months since, when a Wavdsman and Matron were chosen fioin am on: a number ol applicants I | merely because their credentials bore , the signatures of persons holding hi hj

positions in Du ; r ! .s more difficult than to judge of « per.- on

whom we have never come in contact I with. The most discriminating are

liable to error. Therefore to < bviate all difficulties which might arise from any injudicious selection, immediately that the names of the respective candidates are published by the Committee, subscribers should lose no time in instituting inquiries for themselves.

With regard to the matter which led to Dr. Shaw's resignation we'mute no comment. The Committee was entrusted- by the subscribers with.the management of the Hospital, and whether they did rightly or wrongly in bringing about Dr Shaw's riemoya will no doubt be satisfactorily demoustrattd upon the da\ of election, the 17th of August next. The Com mittee doubtless did what to them seemed the best fa the limitation, arid wo believe we are correct in saying that their actions have in no wist been swerved by persona' motives either in this or any other detail connected with the'management.

For efficient medical skill and the comfort and cuie or patients the LTmstin District Hospital has always maintained a high position in the estimation of the mining population, and to render the institution more thoroughly complete we require the addition of a refractory ward for such suffering portion o humanity who, from their inabi'ity to cmtiol their own actions, denial d our sympathy and caie. This addition must be made at once, and those of our fellow-ceuture.- win m menial affliction now subjects to the rough treatment of a common gao , might become inmates iff an institution where they should be kept until such time as the exact nature of their peculiar cases have been ascertain* d ; and we have every reason to believe that, in numbers of instances, cures would be eliec od where at present the sufleivrsarci\moved to the lunatic •Bsyiutn, where their temporary aberration of mind becomes permanently established We believe that there are ample means at the di.-posal of the Committee to supply all that is n< eded ; and, even should, such not be the case, | the public Will readily respond wheiii ever an appeal is made.