CIVIL SERVANTS MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS. 305 



active and intelligent young man an extended sphere of 

 usefulness and laudable ambition. On his arrival in India, 

 the young civilian is allowed twelve or fifteen months to 

 complete his acquirements in the native languages; after 

 which, if he has not rendered himself master of at least two 

 he must resign and return to England. During tins period 

 of probation his talent for some particular line is generally 

 developed, and he is selected for the diplomatic, the judicial, 

 the revenue, or the commercial department, — in all of which 

 the emoluments are good, and the promotion principally 

 dependent upon zeal and ability. A member of council is 

 the highest post a civilian can hold, except the governorship 

 of Calcutta, Bombay, or Madras. These offices are filled 

 up by the court of directors : all other appointments emanate 

 from the governor or governor-general in council. In India, 

 where there are only enough of officers for the work to be 

 performed, there can be no sinecures and no deputies. If a 

 man is idle or incompetent, he must remain contented with 

 a duty of minor importance. There is scarcely a native in 

 the whole country, and certainly not one in a subordinate 

 capacity, who could conduct the daily correspondence of a 

 civilian at a remote station, — he must therefore write him- 

 self, or the hookam for his recall will quickly be issued. 

 Many of this class return to England in the prime of life 

 with large fortunes. Their attachment to the service and 

 practical knowledge of business make such gentlemen most 

 eligible candidates for the East India direction. A civil 

 servant may retire after twenty-five years' residence (which 

 includes three years' furlough) on an annuity of 1000/. per 

 annum, secured to him by annual contribution to a fund 

 created for that purpose. A fund is also appropriated to the 

 relief of the widows and orphans of the same class, who are 

 obliged to subscribe. The military are likewise compelled 

 to support an institution for similar purposes. To all these 

 benevolent objects the company contribute most liberally. 



A considerable number of medical practitioners are also 

 attached to the extensive army maintained by the company. 

 Assistant-surgeons for India, who are not received under 

 twenty-two years of age, must be qualified by diploma or 

 certificate from the Royal College of Surgeons, as well as 

 by an attestation from the company's examining physician. 

 In service thev pass through successive grades analogous 



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