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THE WOMEN'S MEDICAL SERVICE.

     The formation of the Women's Medical Service for India was the out-
come of the following factors:—

         (1) the dissatisfaction of many women doctors at the methods
         adopted for recruitment of medical women and at the pay and
         the position of medical women in India,

         (2) the limited income at the disposal of the Dufferin Fund Council
         which did not allow of larger emoluments being paid to doctors
         in their pay, and

         (3) the knowledge that the needs of the women of India were not
         being sufficiently met by the efforts of the Dufferin Fund.

     2. As a result of representation made to the Secretary of State on the
subject in 1911, the Government of India granted in 1913 a subsidy of
Rs. 1,50,000 to be administered by the Dufferin Fund Committee for the
purpose of establishing a Women's Medical Service in India. The Service
was started in 1914 with a cadre of 25 members admitted by selection and
recruitment in India and in the United Kingdom. In later years the
Government of India twice raised their subsidy and by 1923 the annual
grant had become Rs. 3,70,000. This increased grant enabled the Dufferin
Committee to raise the cadre to 44. The rate of pay of members of the
Women's Medical Service was finally fixed at Rs. 450—50/3—850 with
10 per cent contribution to a Provident Fund. Free furnished quarters or
house rent allowance in lieu thereof were also sanctioned and private
practice was allowed. An overseas allowance and passages to the number
of 4 during a member's period of service, were granted to officers of non-
Asiatic domicile.

     3. In 1917 the Dufferin Fund Committee appointed a medical woman
as Secretary and Chief Medical Officer, Women's Medical Service. This
Officer was given the right of inspection of all hospitals officered by members
of the Service—thus ensuring that the hospitals were kept in efficient
working order and that good work was being done.

     4. In 1925 a Women's Medical Service Training Reserve was organised.
Under this scheme the Council of the Dufferin Fund employed women
medical graduates, recently qualified in India, and appointed them as
assistants in some of the larger hospitals staffed by W. M. S. officers.
After 3 years, selected members of these training reserve officers were sent
to the United Kingdom for further study and later, if found suitable and if
vacancies occurred, they were appointed to the Women's Medical Service.

     5. In 1936 the Cadre consisted of 45 members. A relatively large num-
ber of these officers were employed in educational work. The services
of 9 officers were given to the Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi, four
to the Women's Medical School, Agra, one to the Medical School, Madras,
and one to the All-India Institute of Hygiene, Calcutta.

     6. Three officers were employed in administrative appointments—one
in the Central office as Secretary of the Countess of Dufferin's Fund and
Chief Medical Officer, Women's Medical Service, one in the United Pro-
vinces as Secretary to the United Provinces Branch of the Countess of
Dufferin's Fund and Senior Medical Officer, United Provinces and one