499
3
the con
himself; but, on the contrary, prevented him from obtaining an Assistant Surgeon to the Hospital.
Mr Marques therefore not having been asked to do the duty, thought it right to inform me of the case, to take what steps I thought fit.
I went to the Hospital at once; it was about 11.30 p.m. when I arrived at the gate.
I went to the wards of the main building and in none of them was an attendant on duty; about five patients were pointed out.
One of the cases was opened by the Indian Constable on duty, and the patient, Hardmaster Nation, was then called, and I prescribed for the patient.
Afterward, Dr Marques came, and explained that he considered he had been very discourteously treated by the Superintendent on several occasions, and he had been told by him he had nothing to do with the Hospital, and that he considered Dr Marques doing his, the Superintendent's, duty an interference. He did not therefore feel inclined to act upon his own responsibility.
I explained to the Superintendent the next day, Saturday 5th inst., that his residence at the Peak necessitated his finding a substitute to do his duty according to the rules of the service; that any such substitute was doing him a favour, not the Government at all. I also told the Superintendent that the Government had provided quarters for Dr Marques in the building occupied by the Civil Hospital, and that he was entitled to such allowances as others in the same circumstances, and that, before referring to them, he ought to have consulted me, this being the ground of one of Dr Marques' complaints.
On Sunday morning, the 6th inst., I went to the Hospital wishing to see the case again, and found it had been discharged.