Miria
First, as to the precise meaning you attach to private practice.
Second, in what way this constitutes an offence.
And third, as to where the scale circa alluded to is to be found.
If you will kindly assist me to a right understanding on these points, I shall be in a better position to reply to your request for further explanation.
I have the honor to be,
D. Aгре,
Colonial Surgeon.
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
C. J. Wharry,
Superintendent,
Government Civil Appeal,
Dated 3rd January 1830.
I have the honor to forward copies of those letters dated respectively 29th and 31st ultimo sent by me to the Superintendent of the Government Civil Appeal and also his replies thereto.
As it appears from the tone of these replies that the correspondence might be continued indefinitely without any useful result, I forward them for the consideration of His Excellency the Governor.
The Superintendent, judging from his letter dated 30th ultimo, evidently considers I am exceeding my powers as the Head of the Civil Medical department in calling his attention to the rule that no Government Official can engage in private practice without special permission from Government, and that I am guilty of unnecessarily irritating interference with the employment of his leisure hours.
I submit for the decision of His Excellency the Governor.
In the last paragraph of the same letter, the Superintendent asserts, "But I have not recently learned anything which I did not know six years ago, and I have availed myself personally and for patients, official and private, of such skill and experience as he possessed".
I was aware three years ago of one patient who needed to go to him for advice at his residence, but until the latter part of last year, I was not aware of his engaging in anything like private practice.
I have always availed myself of his services in consultations when I required it for Government officials drawing under £400 a year, also for anyone under my charge confined in Government Establishments.
I have also called him in to consultations or to administer chloroform in some of my private patients, for which he received the usual fees, but I did not think I was exceeding my duty in doing this, as consultations are permitted to Civil Surgeons, though not permitted private practice.