1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 189
2 that their nerves and hands are not equal to the
3 task which they are expected to perform.
4 Let the test be the success which has attended
5 the surgeon’s operations ; his decision in operating, he proper
6 and the ‘number of good: stumps which he can
7 exhibit, and not the favourable opinion of indivi-
8 duals formed by people high in office, who can be no
9 judges of surgical skill. A medical officer may be
10 an excellent physician, and a very indifferent sur-
11 geon; and the reverse is equally true. We are
12 aware that many regimental surgeons suppose that
13 it forms no part of their duty to operate on the
14 field, and that this is solely the province of the
15 field-surgeon. In Europe such may be allowed to
16 be the rule; but in India, every regimental surgeon
17 is called upon to do his best in -attending to the Regimental
18 . . . surgeons ex-
19 necessary operations required by his own men, at peced to
20 > Pp
21 least; and in cases of his vicinity to depdts for Pterone.
22 wounded men, thither also he should repair, when"
23 men are curried there from the field, as often
24 occurred at Feerozshuhur.
25 Some commanding officers may wish the surgeon
26 to be with the regiment, and in consequence, the Causes pre-
27 latter instead of following his wounded, and com- “"S
28 -mencing his operations immediately with every
29 prospect of success, sends a young assistant, who
30 cannot be supposed to be the best judge of what is
31 required, even though an expert operator; and who,
32 instead of acting on his own opinion, if he venture
33 to form one, puts off a capital operation from day