}
131
186
180
1 Murch, 1920.]
COLONIAL MEDICAL SERVICES COMMITTEE.
DR. H. H. STEWART,
been to get rid of the chief dispenser P-Yes, I have pointed that out.
3877. A scheme has been put up for a European chemist to replace him?-You. I would like to say to the Committtee that at Lagos that scheme was put up. Perhaps I ought to have said that; I did not make it clear when I advocated a European chemist. I must say I know that that was advocated last year and the year before. When Dr. Hood was Director of Medical Service, I know that was before the Government, but I thought at the same time it would not do any harm to bring such a point before the Committee, because the more we press these points, the more we are likely to be satisfied.
3878. Sir James Fowler: That does not cover the question of a subordinate Medical Staff, does it ?-- No; I was merely referring to the matter in passing. 3879. Dr. Hood: Do you think that subordinate qualified medical officers would be a good thing to institute in Nigeria P-Yes, I think it is an ideal to place before us, but as I said before, I do not think it is a thing that we can start off straight away.
3880. Not necessarily to educate them locally, but to form?—Yes, I think it is a matter which we should keep in mind, and I do not think any thinking man could possibly grudge anything in the way of aub- ordinate staff which would help the Natives, and which would help in large districts, such as we have got just now, to bring to the Natives modern treat- ment; I do not think anyone could take exception to such a scheme, but I do not think we have got the necessary men at the present moment; the general education of the Native is not of such a high stan- dard.
3881. I meant qualified in England?Yes, I think if we could work such a subordinate staff it would be very good.
3882. You have got a fairly high opinion of the Native Medical Officer P-Oh, no I do not say that at all; in fact I am afraid I have not had a very high opinion of the Native Medical Officer, and I hare been brought very intimately into contact with him in Lagos for the last three years,
3883. Then would you advocate a subordinate medical staff, with your experience of the Native men who are qualified?-Well, we must do something to get at the Native in the outlying parts of the country, and I believe if the Native Medical Officer -bis position, now of course, is that he is not subordinate; he is merely called the Native Medical Officer; he is not directly subordinate to a Medical Officer and working under him-could be made directly responsible to an European Medical Officer, it would be an advantage,
3884. Do you think he would be useful in far out- stations? Yes, working under direct European super- vision, but if you are to put them by themselves in a station, then I am afraid in many cases their limitations would be so great that it would not be desirable.
3885. Sir William Leishman: You have given us a clear and thorough account of all these problemas, but I should like to know one point; how far may we take it that your views are representative of your contemporaries in the West African Medical Service; are you speaking for a certain number of people how many? What I have placed before you has been largely my own experience, what I have een, what I have heard, and how things have struck me in West Africa, and also it has been what Medical Officers have told me, and I have had the privilege of being in Lagos now for over three years, and I know practically, I might say, probably 85 or 90 per cent. of all the Medical Officers in Nigeria, and I think on all the main points-I know certain medical men have different opinions-which I have given you, especially on the question of the Inspector- General, and on the question of promotion, I think you may take it that representa fairly the opinion of the Medical Staff of Nigeria, and of the Gold
[Continued.
Coast and Sierra Leonue with further limitations, of course, I do not happen to know many of them, but on the vital points which I have brought out I think you may take it that is the general opinion. 3886. Would you say that also with reference to officers of higher seniority than yourself; are you speaking as their representative?—I do not like to bind them in any way, it would be most improper. It is rather difficult to speak for a senior officer. I have had the privilege of speaking of these subjecta with Senior Medical Officers, and Provincial Medical Officers, and Principal Medical Officers, and Directors of Medical Services, and a lot of these questions are questions which they certainly subscribe to, The question of Director-General and the questions of the administration, and the lack of funds and the lack of equipment, and the way they have been treated generally by the Local Governments, I think they would subscribe to that as well.
3887. Is there any general body of opinion against any of these particular points? No, I know of no general body.
3888. Individual expressions of opinion we have had rather differ from yours, as you would imagine?-I quite believe that there would be individuals who would differ from some of the points which I have brought up, but this largely represents, I may say, the memorial which we presented to Sir Hugh Clifford last Autumn.
3889. One point specially: The question of the possible transference on promotion to other Colonies out of West Africa altogether?—Yes.
3890. You would make no exception about that, because we have had strong expressions of opinion to the contrary from officers in other services, and I think from some of the West African officers?-1 have seen one or two Medical Officers who have been offered promotion to other Colonies and they have refused it. 1 have two in my own mind whom I have spoken to and I have spoken to other officers, and they trust that there will be no interference with the staff as regarda amalgamation.
3891. On this question of the specialist: When would you select that specialist: would you recruit in this country as a specialist, or after a certain service in Africa on his general suitability or his tastes in that direction ?-I think he ought to be selected after a period in West Africa where he would go through the routine work, and, according to what taste he showed, bacteriology, venereal dis- ease, sanitary, health, or whatever it was, he should be given the opportunity of specialising if he wished to do so.
3892. You think if promotion and pay were per- mitted in these special lines up to, say, the highest grade but one, up to, but not including that of Principal Medical Officer, that that would content such specialista P-Yos, I think that would.
3893. They would not think it
a grievance that they were debarred from reaching the top of the twee P-No, I do not think so at all.
3894. The last point you mentioned was the desir ability of having a number of clinical pathologists, that is men who make, accurate diagnosis. That is one of your points?—Yes.
3895. I should like to know what that means exactly what do you suppose your clinical pathologist was going ot do?-At certain places, at stations at Calabar and Lagos, some of these larger stations with routine work the Medical Officer has very little time himself-especially as he may be specialising in another branch quite different from clinical pathology --for using a microscope, and you cau quite under- stand what it is to hayo charge of a large prison with 500 prisoners if you wish to do a thorough examination of cases, the time taken is absolutely prohibitive. I only urge that for certain stations.
3896. Only a certain stations?-Only at certain stations. There will probably be three such appoint- menta in Nigeria. I do not wish to assign any particular number, but only at certain stations where you have opportunities for them.
1 March, 1920.]
MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.
DR. H. H. STEWART.
3897. Otherwise, there would be a danger of a Medical Officer dropping that class of work altogether, would there not, and giving it to somebody else?-It would only be done for certain stations, it would not be open to all Medical Officers.
3898. Hir James Fowler: You said you thought 14 days was sufficient for the newly arrived Medical Officer to stay at headquarters; do you think that long enough? Yes, 14 days.
Circular.
SIR,
[Continued.
3899. And the reserve; in order to provide for emergencies to prevent men being immediately sent a bush station there must be a reserve? Yes, an augmented staff.
to
3900. As to the classification of stations: The one I suggested was one-tour, two-tour, three-tour, not first, second and third class; you recognize there is a very great difference between these P-Yes, a very great difference, a different problem.
(The Witness withdrew.)
(Adjourned till Monday next, 8th March, 1920, at 3 p.m.)
III.
Downing Street,
20th September, 1920.
I have the honour to forward the accompanying copy of a paper which has recently been presented to Parliament containing the Report of a Committee appointed in November last to enquire into certain questions connected with the Colonial Medical Services, together with a copy of a letter which I have caused to be addressed to the Chairman and the Members of the Committee.
2. I shall be glad if you will furnish me, in due course, with your observations on the recom- mendations of the Committee.
I have, etc.,
MILNER.
•
[Cmd. 939.]
R 1
26248
Į
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
885/26
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-