it is lucrative, and this will be considered a great recommendation.

Many young men of the medical profession, since the declaration of independence by Brazil, have emigrated to that country. Although the establishment of two medical schools at Rio de Janeiro and Bahia, is calculated to supply the great demand for medical practitioners, European physicians are not precluded from establishing themselves; but on the contrary, from their superior education, receive every encouragement.

The great difficulty an English physician has to contend with, is the Portuguese language; of which, should he not have acquired a competent knowledge, his practice will, in consequence, for a year or two, be limited.

With a view, in great measure, to avail themselves of an opportunity of getting over this difficulty, many have heretofore gone out in the capacity of surgeon to one of the numerous gold-mining companies, established in central Brazil. They usually engage with the companies in London, to serve for three years, at a salary varying from £250 to £300 per annum. The expense of their passage to Rio, as also of their journey to the mines, being defrayed by the company. The mines are situated in the province of Minas Geraes, distant from Rio about 350 English miles.

They have strictly to confine themselves each to the medical care of about eight hundred persons, consisting of Europeans, Africans, and natives. The

African slaves are the most difficult to manage, owing to their ignorance of the language, and immoral habits.

The surgeon is required to know thoroughly every branch of the profession; and must always be ready to act on his own judgment, for the distance from any other practitioner precludes all consultation in urgent cases. Accidents of a serious nature are constantly occurring; and he is frequently called on to perform capital operations without any competent assistant. He must also practice midwifery, and be his own pharmaceutist. To lessen his labours, an infirmary for the slaves, containing from twenty to fifty beds, is attached to every mine.

Very few remain in this service after their engagements have expired, superior advantages offering, and a desire to free themselves from the thraldom of a company too often exerted with more than necessary despotism. They either settle in the towns, or enter on agricultural pursuits. If the former be preferred, from £400 to £500 per annum may be realized.

Some who had capital have speculated in mining for gold, whilst others have purchased coffee-plantations. The latter is preferable from the certainty of profit, and especially as it does not interfere with medical practice.

The expenses of living may be estimated from £150 to £200 per annum.

As the Brazilians give a preference to physicians, we would recommend those who intend to emigrate

to that country to provide themselves with a medical diploma, or they will not stand so good a chance of succeeding, or be so much respected in society.

Our West India Colonies, as they have afforded many openings for medical men, will, if we mistake not, when the agitation consequent on the vast social revolution in that portion of the British Empire has subsided, present an admirable field for the exertion and enterprise of both physicians and surgeons. During the existence of slavery, many medical men derived considerable profit by being attached, in the capacity of medical attendant, to estates. Some having under their charge as many as thirty of them, and were remunerated at a certain rate per negro. Since the total emancipation of the labouring popu lation, medical men have still been retained by the planters; and their charges for attendance, which it is presumed are not materially altered, are still paid by them and deducted out of the wages which the negroes receive. The average sum paid to a surgeon, is from 5s. 6d. to 6s. per annum for each negro on the estate. Many medical men, prior to the passing of the emancipation act, were receiving from six to eight hundred a year; and many surgeons, by fortunate speculations, have been enabled to retire with large fortunes. Should a surgeon not be able to obtain from an English merchant, resident in London, the medical charge of a negro-plantation in any of our West India Colonies, he had better visit that part of the country, and he need have no fear of not soon obtaining employment. We knew one gentleman,

who with good interest, in vain endeavoured to procure the charge of a West-India estate. He left England for Jamaica, in which place he had not been two weeks before he obtained the object of his wishes; and he is now connected with a large plantation, and will, we have no doubt, retire a wealthy man.

Large and capacious hospitals are erected on every extensive sugar plantation, in which there are separate apartments for the men and women; there is always a cook, and one of the best and most trustworthy women on the estate is appointed to attend the hospital as sick nurse: her duty is to keep the hospital and the sick in it clean, and to administer such nourishment to the patient as may be prescribed. Besides the regular surgeon, there is on every estate an intelligent man who performs the duties of hospital doctor, and who, in course of time, acquires sufficient experience to enable him to attend to the ordinary cases of disease; thus considerably relieving the surgeon of his otherwise arduous duties. We have been informed, by a gentleman connected with the West India body, that a surgeon has, within the last few months, retired from one of our colonies, having amassed in the exercise of his profession, twenty thousand pounds! To those, on whom fortune may be frowning in this country, we say, "Go, and do thou likewise."

CHAPTER V.

ARMY AND NAVY SURGEONS, AND EAST INDIA COMPANY'S MEDICAL SERVICE.

Medical Men neglected by Government-Army SurgeonsCourse of Study necessary-The late Brevet-The present Anomalous Position of Medical Men in the Army-Pay of Surgeons, &c. in the Army-Navy Medical Regulations-Pay, Retiring Allowance, &c.-East India Company's Medical Service.

It is unfortunate for the medical profession that there are so few sources of distinction and wealth open to its members, beyond the ordinary routine of practice. In the other professions there are situations of trust, honour, and profit, which act as incentives to exertion, and are bestowed as prizes to reward success; and it is greatly to be regretted that in so useful and responsible a calling as that of medicine, there are so few similar inducements held out to stimulate the exertions and studies of its members.