Calendar: 1867-1868 Page 251

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT 251 Although the above are the only qualifications which are absolutely required in Candidates for the appointment of Assistant-Surgeon favourable considera- tion will be given to those who have obtained the degree of from any University in the United Kingdom or who by possessing knowledge of the Diseases of the Eye or of any branch of science connected with the profession such as Medical Jurisprudence Natural History and Natural Philosophy appear to be more peculiarly eligible for admission into the Service observing however that lectures on these or any other subjects cannot be admitted as compensating for any deficiency in those required by the Regulations 10 Such Candidates as shall have been found in all respects competent for the appointment of Assistant-Surgeon will be forthwith nominated to one of Her Majesty's Ships or to Naval Hospital at home or should their services not be immediately required their names will be duly registered for early appointments as vacancies may occur But it is distinctly to be observed that Candidates admitted into the Naval Medical Service must serve in whatever ship they may be appointed to and that in the event of their being unable to do 80 from 8ea-sickness their names cannot be continued on the Naval Medical List nor can they of course be allowed half-pay 11 By the rules of the Service no Assistant-Surgeon can be promoted to the rank of Surgeon until he shall have served five years two of which must have been in ship actually employed at sea after which he will be required to pass an examination before Board of Naval Medical Officers assembled at the Department of the Medical Director-General of the Navy 12 Assist ant-Surgeons at home after completing the stipulated five years service may if tbe public service will admit be granted two months' leave of absence on full pay on condition of their resuming their studies at Medical School or Hospital 13 Their Lordships have been pleased further to direct that limited number of those Candidates who pass the best examination on entering the Service shall be promoted annually to the rank of Surgeon at an earlier period than would occur under ordinary circumstances and that these promotions shall be awarded as follows The Candidate who passes the best Examination of his year-after Years' Serv Ditto ditto second best ditto ditto ditto Ditto ditto third ditto ditto ditto Provided however that their second Examinations are passed in an equally creditable manner and that their conduct during the whole time they have been in the Service hae in all respects been satisfactory