FIGHTING DOCTORS.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2833, 14 March 1878, Page 3

FIGHTING DOCTORS.

Eecent events, observes the Scotsman, in an article which appeared before the fall of Plevna, should tend to direct attention anew to the way in which the neutrality of England is being, compromised by the volunteer aid given to both tee belligerents in the East in the shape both of fighting and of curative power. The very natural feeling of horror excited by Osman's Pasha's expulsion of the English doctors from Plevna, at a time when medical assistance was clamantly needed, ought not to blind Us to the real merits of the very nice questions of international law which the circumstances * involve. The Turkish general's motive is made abundantly plain by the fact that be sent away from Plevna not only the doctors who offered their assistance, but also the wounded whom they wished to succour. Osman Pasha objects to Russian prisoners and to Turkish wounded on precisely the same ground— that they become an inconvenient burden 5 and he objects to English doctors because they would, increase the drain on his resources, and make the burden greater. The^^estion, however, whether the English doctors had any right to be there is wholly independent of these considerations. It is very difficult to view that question without giving way to sentiment; and nothing is more certain than that, if sentiment is yielded to, the view fair en of the matter will be a false one. . Any man or any nation that sends to a belligerent in the field medical aid and surgical stores, or money wherewith to procure these, bopomes his ally.as truly as if the mass of the nation equipped and sent to his aid a corps of fighting men. Whether you send men to help to kill Russians or to cure Turka the end is tho same—to strengthen tho Turks and to foil the Bussians. Put Turks for Russians, and Russians for Turks, and tho proposition is, of course, equally sound. The correctness of this view of the case has received striking confirmation within the last few days, in the instances which have come to light of English volunteers appearing in the double role of sergeant and surgeon. - They are Free-lances one day and Free- ' lancets another; and whether they arc killing or curing they are equally happy, provided they are kept at work. The efforts and endurance of Dr .Ryan at

Piermi nre no doubt worthy of all praise. Still, one could not but wonder how tho Turks, in spite -f their''contempt for 'doctors, should Hvo come to vegnrd him, on nci'ount of his surgical skill, as tho " hero of Plevna." Tho Times' correspondent at Bogot, telegraphing last week, clenrs up the mystery. Ho says, on tho 'authority of Dr Douglas, that "an ,|r>lt surgeon, named Ryan, in tho^ Turkish service, urprl to rmploy himself in loani g the troops when not. otherwise oreupipd, and Ositiiii! Pns'in oVrlnred ' that was tho kind of doctor lie wanted, and he dirl not are the use of my other.' *' Thus our iEsi!Whipius could become "Bellona's hridrgrooni " when so-inclined, and was ready to obey the call " to arms " in whatever form it came to him. But whether he wore the crcscnt'on his sleeve, or followed it fo the field. <he conclusion is inevitable that he vraa quite as much Turk as philanthopist. It is useless to decry the inhumanity of allowing the poor fellows to writhe in agony for lar'r of chloroform nnd linfc. Is there nob an anterior inhumanity in allowing the poor fellows to bo mowed down with cannon ball in the field, and shattered to unrecognisable atoms by shrapnel in theitrencb>s ? The true function o' humanity in this case is to prevent the slaughter, and not merely attempt to cure where it has failed of its intent. In any ense it _.sh6i4lji~.be clearly understood that a doctor" is'as much an effective ally as a colonel—the one should not be treated as an unlucky practitioner, and the other as a prisoner of war. Those who become volunteers .in any shape should be prepared to take the consequences. ' Similarly, each nation should be prepared, and bo made to bear the whole burden of Us own war; because no one can lighten that burden in any form without sharing ia its responsibility, and becoming a partner in its guilt: