THE HOSPITAL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1757, 7 October 1879, Page 3

THE HOSPITAL.

To the Editor of the Globe. Sie, —The leader in the “Star” of the 3rd instant comes out in rather a startling manner re the Hospital. However, I question the editor’s pen in this case ; I see Dr. Turnbull beautifully photographed in that leader. Doctor Turnbull puts me in mind of the story of the sainted Phillip de Neri, “He was so smitten with the love of God that he continuously languished, and his heart boiled with such ardour that, when it could not be contained within its own boundaries, the Lord wonderfully enlarged his heart by breaking and elevating two of his ribs.” Alas, has our medical hero of the Hospital suffered the same languishing pain for the sick of that institution ? I fear not; he has been heard once and only once to call those in the Hospital patients—was it out of sympathy ? _ Dr. Turnbull would like to rule the Hospital as of yore. He cannot brook the idea of a Board of laymen j but, sir, it is high time that a Board of laymen only be appointed. Ido not forget, if the Doctor does, the everlasting rows and squabbles that used to arise in the working of the Hospital, and I do not go too far in saying that it was his domineering and vindictive spirit that gave rise to nearly all the abuses of the Hospital. Messrs Thompson, Brown, and lok are, a thorn in the side of our sympathetic Doctor, and we have a right to be thankful for many reasons that a Board of laymen has been appointed. What a comfort if Dr. Turnbull would only resign and allow the business portion of the work of the Hospital to be conducted by a Board of laymen. Those men would carry out the duties of their department with credit to themselves and a benefit to the Hospital, the patients, and the country. But as long as Dr. Turnbull is member of that Board it will never be able to do its duty properly. Let the laymen do their part, and the medicos theirs; then the two bodies are not so likely to clash, and that allforgotten word “ patient ” might be again heard in connection with other remarks, and perhaps with a slight feeling of sympathy! “ What a glorious thing it would be to unseat this pestilent and mischievous three. Get them off the Board and all would be well,” so says a correspondent. Now this looks very fair j it is all for the good of the Hospital! Putrescent members are to be cut off that the rest of the body may not bo infected. Yes, yea ! But is the Dr. the only one who can judge when a member is putrescent, and the only one who is to order it to be cut off. The glory of cutting off and exterminating should, in his own opinion, belong to himself. But what if the Dr. himself be the putrescent member ? What if the faults of the Dr, be far in excess of those of any of those laymen now on the Board ? Would it be glorious and laudable to out him off ? Oh dear no ; the Doctor is infallible; ho cannot do wrong j at least no one is to judge him ; but he, just as he is, is he to be the judge of all others on that Board. He should mind his own business, and stick to his physic. Yours, &0., MEDICASTER.