HOSPITAL MATTERS.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4757, 5 April 1884, Page 2

HOSPITAL MATTERS.

(To the Editor of the * vening Star.)

Sib,—The common aim of a newspaper press being the exposure and suppression of abuses, I mast heartily support your local contemporary in the view lately taken of the affairs of the Thames Hospital. It is much to be regretted that any necessity should exist for putting the public on their guard against a repetition of the dishonorable practices employed at the last election of the Hospital Committee, but if rumor speaks truly there is but too much reason for apprehension that the same unscrupulous tactics may be pursued at the coming election on the 15th of this month; it therefore behoves all right-minded persons who are interested in the return of an independent Committee, whether they be electors or not, to attend at the Academy of Music on the 15th instant, and there, by their presence as well as by their votes, offer an ! authoritative protest against trickery and I intrigue. It seems inconceivable that the interests of an institution like the Hospital, so catholic in character, intended for the preservation of life and for the relief of suffering, should be jeopardised for the purpose of forwarding individual views. It is necessary to point out that since the last election of the Committee the office of Surgeon, which up to the present time, has been an annual appointment, is henceforward to be a permanent one —a change which demands more care and consideration in making a choice than formerly—when an unfortunate selection could be remedied by effluxion of time. It will hardly be believed that a majority of the present Hospital Committee (which was elected under the baneful influence of intrigue) made an endeavor against both law and custom to alter the conditions upon which the present surgeon holds bis appointment, and actually passed a resolution by which the office of Surgeon would have been made permanent without any further election. Happily

the resolution could have no effect, but the unscrupulous nature of the attempt is deserving of severe reprobation. The fact is, certain members of the Committee seem to be of opinion that they can order the administration of the Hospital according to their irresponsible wiii, a state of matters which does not escape the observation of the officials belonging to the institution, who are thus in the position of being able to play into the hands of the former. Some of the persons concerned are quite alive to the nature of this situation ; a state of things which might naturally be expected of men unscrupulous enough to pack a meeting, and as candidates to solicit votes in their favor. After the above exposition of hospital management, your readers will hardly be surprised to learn that the professional attainments of candidates for the office of surgeon have been utterly ignored in the late elections to that office. What seems to me to be wanted is an unblushing canvasser and able tactician, capable of overreaching his adversaries, and giving his friends a seat at the board of management. Are these qualifications still to be appreciated as formerly, and are such proceedings to ibe, the passport to office and emolument F Electors alone can answer the question ; let them resolve to do so honestly, and so will be removed the reproach which now attaches to the i patronage exercised by the HospitaLJ* Committee.—l am, &c,

Subscriber.