complete recovery effectually prevented during the Summer: and, when November arrived with the cool weather, it brought such a large increase of work (a daily average of 90 patients) that my restoration to health was seriously impeded.
Paragraph 3 reiterates the statement that I refused duty, and finds that ill-health was no excuse, although the Council had before them the Report of the Medical Board (Medical Enclosure No. 4).
These two points, Sir, I again respectfully submit to your judgement.
Paragraph 4 contains in substance a recommendation that I should be allowed to retire on a pension on the ground of ill-health, which I received temporarily, preventing my performance of duties. As to this, I would again allude to my letter of instructions of June 6th, 1883, and enclosure No. 1 to the finding of the Medical Board of 29th November (Enclosure No. 14).
Finally, I beg to observe that this matter appears to have arisen from a series of misunderstandings. Mr. Jordan, who found himself in the position of having to advise the Government on this occasion, failed to recognize the gravity of Mr. Marques' illness, being ignorant of the practice of the Department and not knowing how to provide for the emergency. He was apparently not aware of his personal responsibility, took no steps to procure assistance beyond one application to the Military Staff, and was perhaps anxious that official duties should not encroach too much on his time and interfere with his private practice.
His Excellency was thus misinformed as to Mr. Marques' illness, as to the requirements of the case, and as to the facts. Mr. Cyres wrote on 16th November that he understood the Superintendent was in charge of Post Mortem work during Mr. Marques' illness, and has since seen Mr. Jordan, who understood so also. Then His Excellency has read both my letter of March 1881, applying for an increase of salary, and June 1883, as conveying instructions, but with an impression altogether different from my own.
Through all these difficulties and misunderstandings, I have conscientiously striven to carry out my instructions as I understood them since June 1882. If I misinterpreted them, you, Sir, will judge the extent of my error and whether it admits of excuse.
However, the charge of the Civil Hospital alone is too great a strain to be borne for many years by any man, and I shall be glad, with your permission, to retire on a pension as advised by the Council.
That I should be practically dismissed from the service, however, after devoting the best years of my life to it, is a course which will not, I believe, commend itself to your judgement, and I now leave it to your consideration.
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