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JOURNAL, fLA.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. IX. 



Island." Sir Stewart Mackenzie predicted what has been 

 fulfilled. " I need scarcely add," he said, " that if these 

 measures are successful, they will become the means of open- 

 ing to the inhabitants of the Colony a new and most useful 

 branch of professional employment." 



Very few are now alive, who, under the designation of 

 " Medical Sub-Assistants," served under Military Medical 

 Officers, heads of the old Department. One of the earliest 

 lists of the officers of the Civil Medical Department which 

 I have been able to find is that for 1817. Between this 

 date and 1858, when the Civil Medical Department became 

 a distinct establishment, a large number of individuals, 

 natives of the country, were educated and trained under 

 Military Medical Officers. Many of these Military heads 

 of the department appear to have been as kind-hearted as 

 they were eminent for their scientific attainments, and the 

 members of the subordinate department who still survive 

 speak with a respect and affection of Forbes, Stewart, 

 Barclay, Kinnis, Rowe, Ferguson, Templeton, Cameron, 

 Fleming, and others, who, while ruling the department 

 wisely and well, took a personal interest in the welfare of 

 their subordinates. 



Dr. Kevett, in 1835, was the first who attempted to organise 

 a medical class. His pupils were the late Mr. Ferdinands of 

 Kandy, E. F. Kelaart, P. H. Van Cuylenburg, M. B. Misso, 

 Trask, Cleveland, and Ebert of Our service. Of this number, 

 Kelaart having obtained the opportunity of a free passage to 

 England, as surgeon's assistant, accompanied the 7 8th High- 

 landers, and returned with a Commission as Staff Assistant 

 Surgeon in 1840. Dr. Kelaart may, therefore, be considered 

 as the first Ceylonese who acquired a British Medical degree ; 

 and his career as a physician and a naturalist was dis- 

 tinguished. His work " Prodromus FaunaB Zeylanicse " is 

 a monument of his talent and industry. 



The slight attempt at imparting medical knowledge which 

 I alluded to, was shortly after followed by a regular class for 



