William Smellie

DOCTOR FLEETWOOD has apparently spent some hAppy years in browsing through the medical archives of Ireland, and has presented to us a book which is not wvithout interest, although, in hiis own words, it is "not an exhaustive account of Irish medical practice throughout the centuries. " The opening chapters dealing with earlier history are full of interest and pleasantly written. We find that he has referred quite frequently to articles wvhich have appeared in this Journal, wvhich, " contrary to the expectations of many, was quite successful, and attracted contributions from outside the Six Counties." He does not make it very clear who the many were wvho entertained such poor hopes for our success. In his account of the Belfast Medical School he singles out for slecial mention Sir William Whitla and Dr. Henry MacCormac. It would have been better if I)octor Fleetwood had confined his attention entirely to that part of Ireland which is now the Republic. His account of the first World War is mainly concerned with the offer of Trinity College to give a civilian unit to the British Red Cross Society, and with the Staffing of the 88th General Hospital at Boulogne with relays of medical officers from Dublin. He pays a wvarm tribute to the members of the profession who refused to comply with the "orders issued by the Government departments that all cases of bullet-wounds should be reported to the police by the hospitals and doctors concerned," during the Irish Rebellion of 1919/1921. Almost three pages are devoted to the creation and organisation of the Army Me,dical Corps of the Republic. Brief reference is made to the war of 1939/45, except to say that "it brought profound changes to the lives of Irish medical men. The rapid wastage of medical manpower in England provided a ready market for our doctors. Unfortunately, many of the posts offered were 'for the duration, with an uncertain future ahead.' Nevertheless, more Irish doctors than ever went abroad to civilian and military posts." There is, therefore, little or nothing in his book in praise of the gallant and devoted members of our profession who risked, and, in so many cases, gave their lives in aid of the suffering and the dying, and in loyalty to the cause which they knew to be just. It is for this reason that we feel that Doctor Fleetwood has dismally failed to present a true account of the history of medicine in Ireland. R. M.