consult then personally. hos. the Colonial Surgeon, may or not, he must be relieved
be hard worked
by
the abolition
of the C.S. acts, for the lock hospital was in his charge.
No: 2 and -G. Cannot have much work.
The prisoners in the gaol are fewer than they were, and, outside the prison, the only government duties which devolve on the surgeon are medico-legal duties,
such as
post
Mortems and
giving
evidence at inquests.
It had occurred to me that it might be possible, given vacancies and suitable men, to make the Superintendent of the gaol a medical man,
and
give the discipline as well as the health
of the prisoners into the keeping of a doctor, but I am not sure that the arrangement is as good in itself, inasmuch as a doctor is a preventive against undue severity by the head of the prison, and at any rate in the present case other arrangements would be preferable.
pp 167-8
No.2. the health officer is Health Officer of the port only and has enough time!
I think it is clear that four men, giving their whole time to the service, could do the work of more than the five now doing it. An obvious combination is that suggested by Dr. Dawson of Health Officer and Gaol Surgeon; but I would rather have a Colonial Surgeon, with three assistants under him, arranging all these duties between them and not necessarily earmarked for particular duties, though one must always live at the hospital.
If Dr. Ayres retires shortly, as he is expected to do, we can make a good beginning, especially if he were to be succeeded by Dr. Atkinson, who seems to bear a high reputation.
At present the Colonial ...