MEDICAL ATTENDANCE. 167 



dispenser at the Coolie hospital, recently established in San 

 Fernando. He was next in January, 1850 selected to 

 superintend the Coolie asylum of Port-of-Spain, under the control 

 of the then house-surgeon, Dr. Ch. P., and employed, at the same 

 time, as dispenser at the Leper Asylum. There he acted for two 

 years and a half, and then left for Europe, on leave, in August, 

 1852 : after an absence of eleven months, he returned to the 

 island, with a diploma of M.D., from Aberdeen, to resume his 

 duties at the Coolie asylum, which was forthwith rendered an inde- 

 pendent establishment. About this time, Dr. Ch. P., the surgeon 

 of the colonial hospital, was pressed to take a leave of absence 

 for the benefit of his health ; Dr. M. was appointed his locum 

 tenens, and the Coolie hospital done away with. On his return from 

 Grenada, and before the expiration of his congt, Dr. P. was 

 prevailed upon to send in his resignation, and, the very next daij, 

 Dr. M. appointed to fill the situation. This nomination was sent 

 home for approval, three days after by the packet; and thus 

 were defeated the claims of several who had applied for the 

 situation, at a former period, as also of those who had intended to 

 make application on the present occasion several of them better 

 qualified, and all having better claims than the Colonial Secre- 

 tary's favourite. 



The hospital staff consists of a visiting physician, the house- 

 surgeon, a dispenser, and a clerk selected by the house-surgeon. 



No patients are admitted into the hospital unless some 

 party is responsible for the charge of one shilling per diem, which 

 the poor inhabitant of the island is obliged to contribute ; two 

 shillings are exacted for sailors or other foreign invalids. 



It is really surprising that a convenient hospital has not yet been 

 erected in Port-of-Spain for the reception of the sick poor ; and 

 the more so, as a special fund had been gradually accumulating 

 for the purpose. The fund amounts at present to the sum of 

 10,261 15s., as appears by the published " State of the Colonial 

 Treasury, on 31st December, 1854" " Balance remaining of 

 the old legacy duty appropriated to the building of a hospital, 

 in Port-of-Spain, 10,261 15s." 



That sum must have been expended, or rather thrown away ; 

 for, the stones, bricks, lime, and sand that were some four months 

 ago carted to the spot on which the hospital is to be erected, have 

 since lain there, exposed to be damaged by the heavy rains, or 



