The Strike of the Doctors

Ashburton Guardian, Volume X, Issue 2353, 14 April 1891, Page 2

The Strike of the Doctors

So widespread and generally believed has become the slanderous dictum of Sidney Smith that a Scotchman needs to be surgically operated upon before a joke can enter his head, that my readers may hardly credit the fact chat a Scotch newspaper has s(iven,birth to a hoax which may almost be said to equal m realism tho famous "Kaskowiski"and "Noah's Ark.' iSuch is the case, nevertheless, for one evening there appeared m the largely circulated " Edinburgh Evening Dispatch" a full account of a purported largely attended meeting of the medical men of Scotland called together for the purpose of airing their grievances m regard to their excessively long hours of labour and poor remuneration. A sorrowful tale of overtoil, starvation wages, and ingratitude fell from the lips of these hardly-used disciples of JEsculapius. Various suggestions as to remedying matters were put forward. Sir Douglas McLeod, one of the oldest and most respected men m the service, who occupied the chair, suggested moderation. He was also supported m this view by Sir G, H. B. McLintock and Mr Allen, an eminent Edinburgh surgeon. The majority however, thought that the only method of redress lay m a general strike on the part of the members of the profession. The recent action of the railway strikers and the sympathy shown to them by the' public were instanced by several speakers as good reason for casting to the winds all notions of professional honour, regard for human life, or legal restraints. Indeed, one, Dr Herdman, from John o' Groats, said his only regret was that the time for striking was not more opportune. An epidemic of cholera or smallpox would render a strike more efficacious. The question was ultimately referred to a committee. Such m brief is an outline of the nature of the purported meeting. Appearing as this hoax did ab the close of the great railway strike, it was plainly intended to satirise the " new unionism " and the "new morality" which this labour dispute had brought into view. The verisimilitude of the story was well maintained throughout, and it was perhaps not much to be wondered ab that a number of English papers, among the number the "London Daily Chronicle ". and the "Observer," were gulled by it, and devoted leading articles to the question. The most astonishing thing, however, is that the " Luncet " the great organ of the medical world, was deceived by it. This journal devoted its columns to a sympathetic review of the hardships that beset the lives of Scottish doctors as revealed by this meeting. The slightest consideration must have made it apparent to any one at all acquainted with medical affairs that Sir Douglas MeLeod, the chairman of the meeting; Sir G. H. 15. McLintock ; Mr Allan, the eminent Edinburgh surgeon ; and Dr Herdman, from John o'Groats, and the others, were mythical personages. The Scottish newspapers are naturally very j übilant over the success of the hoax, and they are especially delighted that the London journals- which never tire of poking fun at the impervio.-ity cf Scotchmen to jokes -have proved thp.mselves so dull-witted m this instance. This display of humour will surely help to deal a deathblow to the maligning Smithian assertion that has so long annoyed the Scottish nation.—London correspondent " New Zealand Herald,"