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Had I attempted Dr. Marguer's work, I must have neglected my own, and frequent complaints from the patients at the Civil Hospital would have been as harassing to me as disagreeable to the Government.
From Dr. Marguer's symptoms on the 5th and strong probability of his having abscess of the liver and requiring a locum to undertake his duties for a lengthened period, and this knowledge made me more unwilling to do so.
The medico-legal work is a heavy responsibility, involving the administration of justice, and sometimes the question of life or death, depending on its proper performance.
It is true that in years gone by I performed all the medico-legal duties in addition to my work, but Dr. Breen and Thompson, the heads of the Naval and Military Medical Departments, who were asked to report on this subject in November 1880, stated that this was more than one could be expected to do.
The Hospital is larger now by 15 beds, and the medico-legal work has largely increased from 103 bodies examined in 1881 to 184 in 1887.
Since June 1883, when Dr. Marguer was appointed to the charge of the medico-legal duties, provision has had to be made for his work on several occasions, but the Government have always provided for it without any reference to me, and only for the first time have I been called upon to do it.
The condition on which Lord Derby granted me an increase of pay, viz., sole charge of the Civil Hospital, I have fulfilled, as the accommodation has been increased from 1100 to 1570 in 1885, and the number of patients from 983 to 1178.
It is extremely unfortunate, on my account as well as the Government's, that my suggestion to let Jordan apply to the Military Staff was unsuccessful, but I am not aware that efforts were made in any other direction to procure assistance.
The return of Dr. Clyres, however, will doubtless relieve the pressure now due.
I trust that this explanation will be satisfactory, and that Mr. Marsh will accept my earnest assurance of my capacity.
My letter of the 7th instant should, I wish it had been differently expressed, but it was written hurriedly on receipt of the Governor's intimation late on Saturday evening, and after a much disturbed night, I dispatched it without revision on Sunday morning, the matter being urgent.
I have now in Hospital 79 sick of all nationalities, some of whom are in a critical condition.
The never-ending struggle with disease and death on behalf of these sufferers, carried on as it is unaided, cannot fail occasionally to induce a frame of mind that may be considered very unfit for official correspondence.
Some of my letters may be found very wanting, and nobody is more conscious of their shortcomings than myself, and nobody regrets them more.