1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 191
2 Though the regimental surgeon has not the
3 honour of leading men into the thick of battle and His seivieca
4 is enjoined not to expose himself unnecessarily, it anisuniler
5 will be readily seen, that his annoyances must
6 sometimes make him wish that he did go where
7 danger awaited him, rather than remain where his
8 services were required, but are not appreciated and
9 are even misunderstood.
10 Since there exists such difficulty in keeping
11 dooly-bearers at their post in the field, thereby
12 causing loss of instruments at a time when they
13 are urgently required, every medical officer
14 attached to Europeans at least should be furnished
15 with what is called a surgical saddle, and in which The necessity
16 a case of amputating instruments, and one of ae ing
17 medicines and dressing, supply the place of pistols, Se
18 weapons rarely of any use to him.
19 All these arrangements require but little foresight,
20 and should be made before troops enter on active
21 service. They are not the province of a Governor-
22 general or Commander-in-chief; but they certainly
23 lie within the province of a superintending surgeon,
24 or the surgeon-general of the medical board, both 7. duty of
25 of whom might urge their necessity with every rae dareeone
26 prospect of success, though the regimental surgeon, sunauiee
27 in doing so incurs displeasure, so Jealous are seniors
28 of any interference.
29 As regards ourselves, we are not writing a treatise
30 on military surgery, gun-shot wounds, or medical Object of thé
31 policy, and therefore may be pardoned for thus ®*:°ing
32 remarks,
33 entering on forbidden ground; and we shall be