IMPORTANCE OF ACTIVITY IN COMMITTEES. 
675 
BRETT’S AND THE FEVER HOS- 
PITALS. 
It is now nearly two years since it was 
projected to establish a Fever Hospital 
uniting the advantages of medical advice 
and of attention to the personal comforts 
of the native population of Calcutta. In 
May 1835, the subject was brought 
forward at a meeting of the governors 
of the Native Hospital, and subsequently 
a committee was appointed at a public 
meeting at the Town Hall, to carry the 
objects into execution. But the public 
are ignorant of the plans adopted and 
of what has been effected, saving the 
success of collecting Rs. 30,000 towards 
that laudable end. Thus, while the commit- 
tee have been deliberating, many poor 
have suffered from such affections as 
tumours, cancers, stone, affections of 
the eye, and numerous other ills to 
which the human frame is subject. It pro- 
bably never did occur to the committee 
that every day they postponed their 
determination there was some poor fellow- 
creature lingering in pain and agony ; while 
many families were losing their only sup- 
port by the death of a parent, a husband, or 
a friend. 
Surely with such innumerable plans of 
other institutions before them in other coun- 
tries and in other situations in India, found- 
ed by our benevolent medical brethren, there 
were not so many difficulties as to occasion 
this extraordinary procrastination. We must 
confess that it is unaccountable to us, and we 
can only ascribe the delay to what is asserted 
to be the case in all public committee at- 
tempts within the Mahratta ditch, to promote 
the public good, that there is something per- 
vading this locality which tends to blight 
success on all occasions. Under these cir- 
cumstances we are glad of an early opportu- 
nity of introducing to the notice of the public 
the effort of a mofussilite coming among us. 
In the short space of one month, Mr. Brett 
has effected by his laudable and spirited ex- 
ertions what has been attempted and unac- 
complished in nearly two years by the com- 
mittee to whom we have alluded. 
We present our readers with an account 
of a public meeting convened at the Town 
hall, which shows that ’ Mr. Brett has suc- 
ceeded beyond ail doubt in establishing a 
Hospital, which has not only awakened a 
lively interest in the minds of the native com- 
munity in its favour, and promoted exten- 
sive relief to the physical miseries of the poor, 
but we have no doubt will give an electric 
shock to every member of the Fever Com- 
mittee to spur them on ; telling them 
each and all to ponder no longer, but to 
work. The sentiments of Lord Auckland on 
Brett’ sHospital will be read with pleasure as 
the testimony he bears to Mr. Brett’s acti- 
vity of mind will be encouraging others to 
emulate that bright example.. What was 
it but a similar activity of mind which 
enabled Astley Cooper, John Bell, 
Liston, Louis, Dupuytren,&c. to raise sur- 
gery in Europe to a science. 
HisXordship’s high opinion and approba- 
tion of Mr. Brett’s exertions is evident, and 
His Lordship’s benevolent disposition to 
support what is good is also obvious. But he 
thinks that Mr. Brett’s propositions do not 
possess more merit than other plans which 
have been projected. We would, with defer- 
ence, observe however, that there is a wide 
difference between projected plan, and one 
actually brought into operation by individual 
exertion. There is a great difference be- 
tween deliberation for years about doing 
good and at once setting about that good ! — 
Much must be said also for tried profes- 
sional attainments, for experience, for 
ingenuity in all the circumstantials which 
are indispensable to render an enterpiize suc- 
cessful in its issue ? Much is to be said 
also for qualifications in the native 
languages. It is by these means that 
Mr. Brett has obtained that knowledge of 
the customs, habits, prejudices, and so forth 
of the natives, which, united to a bene- 
volent deportment and successful pi’actice 
in all departments of his profession, have 
enabled him to obtain that confidence in 
