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(Click here for a document, Chapter 11 from an unnamed book, which sets out the requirements for a medical qualification from the Indian universities.
http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/rawdataupload/upload/insa/INSA_1/20005abe_476.pdf )
It is clear from other documents in this collection that the ISMD had numerous grievances and that they were prepared to voice them. : *Rates of pay for 1915 are given, not vastly different from those given above for 1870: :{||4th class Assistant Surgeon ranking as sub conductor, |100 rupees per month|-|3rd class, |150 rpm|-|2nd class ranking as conductor, |200 rpm |-|1st class, |250 rpm|-|Senior Assistant Surgeon with honorary rank of Lieutenant, |350 rpm|-|Senior with honorary rank of Captain or Major, |450 rpm |} *A letter dated 1907, says that the ISMD is no longer a desirable field for employment for young men. The pay is poor, particularly in junior grades: this and the 4 year course of professional study makes it difficult to recruit suitable men. There is a need to improve pay and prospects - an Assistant Surgeon has to serve for 19 years before promotion to 1st class. It was proposed to reduce this to 17 years, and introduce more “perks” relating to horse allowance, furlough pay etc.Correspondence with General Council for Medical Education and Registration in London in which they point out that granting of qualifications is their remit and are entitled to refuse - they refused to acknowledge qualifications of State Medical Faculty of Bengal. In 1914, 18 Military Assistant Surgeons sent memorials to His Majesty’s Secretary of State praying for certain improvements in the pay, status and prospects of the ISMD – among them was Senior Assistant Surgeon AW Truter, who wrote a lengthy letter, including the following: “Your memorialist submits that the present designation, viz Indian Subordinate Medical Department, casts an undeserved slur on its members inasmuch as no Government Department of similar standing is designated “subordinate”, nor is the word “subordinate” borne by any department of the British or Indian Army... your memorialist would therefore crave your lordships indulgence in this respect and beg for the removal of a word so obnoxious as “subordinate” from his designation”This collection also includes a copy of the entrance exam to the ISMD in 1912. There are sections on English Composition, (eg write an essay on punctuality), Mathematics (including algebra), History and Geography (both Indian and UK based - candidates had to answer some of each.)The reform of the ISMD is covered in more detail in the following Collections, which, to date, have not been perused by the authors:Collection 116/8 Senior apothecaries no longer to be styled as warrant officers. IOR/L/MIL/7/5278 1886.
Collection 116/13 Royal Warrant *Correspondence with the General Council for grant Medical Education and Registration in London in which they point out that granting of commissions qualifications is their remit and are entitled to senior apothecaries. IOR/L/MIL/7/5283 1890refuse - they refused to acknowledge qualifications of State Medical Faculty of Bengal.
Collection 116/15 Names *In 1914, 18 Military Assistant Surgeons sent memorials to His Majesty’s Secretary of senior apothecaries granted commissions under Royal WarrantState praying for certain improvements in the pay, status and prospects of the ISMD – among them was Senior Assistant Surgeon AW Truter, who wrote a lengthy letter, including the following: :“Your memorialist submits that the present designation, viz Indian Subordinate Medical Department, casts an undeserved slur on its members inasmuch as no Government Department of similar standing is designated “subordinate”, nor is the word “subordinate” borne by any department of the British or Indian Army. IOR/L/MIL/7/5286 1890. . your memorialist would therefore crave your lordships indulgence in this respect and beg for the removal of a word so obnoxious as “subordinate” from his designation”
Collection 116/22 Apothecary branch: changes *This collection also includes a copy of the entrance exam to the ISMD in rank 1912. There are sections on English Composition, (eg write an essay on punctuality), Mathematics (including algebra), History and Geography (both Indian and designation UK based - candidates had to answer some of members. IOR/L/MIL/7/5293 1893-1894each.)
Collection 116/50 Improvements in pay and prospects of military assistant surgeons of Indian Subordinate Medical Department, including removal ==The End of the word "Subordinate". IOR/L/MIL/7/5321 1914-1934The EndIMD==
saving progress
|}
They were also allowed a Field Allowance of Rs 30 per mensem (month) when marching or in the field. Also a staff or employed allowance when senior with, or in subordinate medical charge of, the hospital of a British Regiment or detachment of British Troops, or a Battery of Artillery, or a Depot or Sanitarium or when attached to a General Hospital or Medical Store Depot (. Hospital Assistants were in a different stream, serving in Native Regiments and Hospitals).
The book is ''A Code of Medical and Sanitary Regulations for the Guidance of Medical Officers serving in the Madras Presidency'' by William Robert Cornish (1870). [http://books.google.com/books?id=WhUDAAAAQAAJ Volume 1], which contains the above references and [http://books.google.com/books?id=NhcDAAAAQAAJ Volume 2]. Both these books are snippet view only. Some readers may be able to access them using a proxy server. (An author was originally able to access these books, but now cannot.)
====Service Histories====
Once the whereabouts of your ancestor in a given year has been established, a useful next step is the IOR V/12 Service Histories.
The necessary volumes can be accessed on found using [[The National Archives site: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/|Access to Archives]]. Search for IOR/V/12 and chose one or more relevant volumes. The later you can get in your Assistant Surgeon’s career the better, as the information appears to be cumulative. The documents themselves are held at the British Library.
In addition to the postings, the Service Histories also contain other details relating to leave and training.
Hence the following extracts from Histories of Service in Burma - Medical Department IOR/ V/12/ 406 for 1921:
:Sandoway – Civil Surgeon - 28 Oct 1899:Leave on medical certificate in India from 15th and out of India for 5 months and 11 days from 17 August 1900, the date of being struck off duty being 15 Aug 1900.
:Henzada - CS – 26 May 1909:On deputation to Kasauli for training in Clinical Bacteriology and Technique from 25 Feb to 30
Mar 1912
:Henzada - CS – 6 Apr 1912:On deputation to Calcutta for Royal Commission from 7 Jan 1914
Interestingly, by the time these records appear in 1921, this Assistant Surgeon is listed as IMD and not ISMD. The word “subordinate” was finally dropped in 1919 – this was the year it no longer appeared in The London Gazette. It is probable that the deputation to Calcutta in 1914 was in pursuit of this aim, amongst others.
==Assistant Surgeons and Superintendents of Jails==
The employment of Assistant Surgeons as Jail Superintendents seems curious, but was the usual practice.
Reports on Jails, Hospitals, Public Health Departments and much more can be found in the IOR/V/24 series. As with the Service Histories they are searchable on the via [[The National Archives http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/. |Access to Archives]] site and available to view at the British Library.
See [[Superintendents of Jails]] for some details of daily life (note sent as separate document).
==Records - The Question of Status==''Collection 116/52 Recognition by General Medical Council of certain Indian degrees, including Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery of University of Madras. '' '''IOR/L/MIL/7/5323 1915-1916 ''' This is an interesting collection of documents and correspondence. The hope had been that qualifications such as the LMS (Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery) would be recognised by the General Medical Council, and that at the end of 5 years in the ISMD, Assistant Surgeons would be able to study for further qualifications that would put them on an equal footing with their IMS colleagues. ([http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/rawdataupload/upload/insa/INSA_1/20005abe_476.pdf Click here for a document], Chapter 11 from an unnamed book, which sets out the requirements for a medical qualification from the Indian universities.)
The outcome was to defer the adoption of the system of nomination for admission into the medical colleges for Assistant Surgeon branch of the ISMD. Presumably the decision was not taken at this time as it was the middle of the First World War and there were more pressing matters to hand - during this time many Civil Surgeons served for a time with the Military - but it would seem that the ISMD was put on a more equitable footing shortly thereafter.
The reform of the ISMD is covered in more detail in the following Collections, which, to date, have not been perused by the authors:*''Collection 116/8 Senior apothecaries no longer to be styled as warrant officers.'' '''IOR/L/MIL/7/5278 1886'''*''Collection 116/13 Royal Warrant for grant of commissions to senior apothecaries.'' ''' IOR/L/MIL/7/5283 1890'''*''Collection 116/15 Names of senior apothecaries granted commissions under Royal Warrant.'' '''IOR/L/MIL/7/5286 1890''' *''Collection 116/22 Apothecary branch: changes in rank and designation of members'' '''IOR/L/MIL/7/5293 1893-1894'''*''Collection 116/48 Issue of new Royal Warrant for promotion of assistant surgeons and sub-assistant surgeons. '' '''IOR/L/MIL/7/5319 1910-1933'''*''Collection 116/50 Improvements in pay and prospects of military assistant surgeons of Indian Subordinate Medical Department, including removal of the word "Subordinate".'' '''IOR/L/MIL/7/5321 1914-1934'''
The Indian Medical Department effectively ended as a separate entity on April 3rd 1943 when it was amalgamated with the Indian Medical Service and the Indian Hospital Corps. In this form, it still exists today.
