ANSWER TO DR. PAYNE'S LETTER.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2880, 9 May 1878, Page 2

ANSWER TO DR. PAYNE'S LETTER.

(To the Editor of the Erening Star.)

Sib,—An answer to Dr Payne's letter is scarcely necessary, for he admits in this morning's paper that he refused twice to' go to the Hospital, the second time when he knew Dr O'Flaherty was not to be found. He was waiting to be asked •' officially." Is it usual for surgeons to require official notice to attendorithe sick and the suffering? Dr Payne showsby his letter his character, and one that the miners on this field will not soon forgot; that as far as he is concerned they may lie down and die from an accident for all he cares, for he will not attend unless officially notified. Where is Dr Payne's feeling for suffering humanity? Why, I venture,to say there 1 is not a man, not to say a professional man, 1 on this field but Dr Payne, who, if told another fellow being in suffering and pain wanted his aid, that would no* leare his I occupation at once and go to his relief. , The public will judge whether Dr Payne did refuse or not, mod even the heartless manner in which he said to Mr Mcllhone, " I shall.be home in ten minutes," calls for remark.. The suffering man might die for ali he cared. Tn ice he was asked to go, but if again asked by Mr Mcllhone, he would afttfod in ten minutes. Ten minutes of suffering was nothing to Dr Payne, so thai his" iJeas of etiquette were carried out. It is to be hoped, now that Dr Payne Las awakened to a sense of what is due to his feelings, that he will raeke himself acquainted with what is due to the feelings of others; for the public, and especially those friends of a Jate professional brother, know the utter want of every feeling of delicacy or humanity shown by him in iiis unseemly haste to obtain the j i ictice and appointments held by the deceased. Why, the Hospital Committee should at once strike his name off the list of Hon. Surgeons for his refusal to attend in the absence of the House Surgeon. Until the morning of the death of Dr Perston, Dr Payne was neve* inside the Hospital, officially, for at least 18 months, and now the first time he is requested to go he refuses because he is not officially asked. I am ashamed that it should be said that any, man, professional or otherwise, should refuse aid to the unfortunate, and will leave to P»r Payne's conscience the duty of showing him that the refusal of a request does not depend upon the manner in which it is asked. I repeat, Dr Payne did refuse to go to the Hospital; he admits it in one breath and denies it in the next; and the plea that he only refused because he was not asked " officially " is a conlemptible excuse.— I am, &c, W. McCuLLOUGH. P.S. —I have, been at some pains to find out what transpired when Dr. Payne was asked and twice refused to attend Sullivan at the Hospital, and the following will scarcely be denied even by Dr. Payne, so that the public can judge for themselves as to whether Dr. Payne refused or not to attend. When Patrick Sullivan was taken to the Hospital on Tuesday, the Dispenser asked if any one had gone for the doctor. Some-one answered "\'es." The man came back in a short time and said be had gone to Dr Payne, and he told him he was not the Hospital doctor ; it was Dr. O'Flaherty. So he went to look for Dr O'Flaberty but could not find him, and he went back again to Dr Payne rid asked him to come, as the man was bally hurt. He said that he had nothing to do with the Hospital, and that he had his own business to look after. It w.as, 1 believe, three quarters of an hour before Dr Payne went, and then it was along with Mr Mcllhone.—W. MC.