Klosowski's "request to oppose" ?

[HelenaWojtczak]

Re the documents found in SK's possession, can anyone decipher what this (in bold) means?

"Letter from the Ministry of the Interior, stating that they had no objection to Klosowski's request to oppose his receiving the degree of "Junior Surgeon", and that the necessary fees had been paid. Signed Dr M. Oreszaief (Collegiate Councillor) and A. Pominski (Secretary). Dated 5th December 1886."

Sound like SK was opposing his own degree. Daft. What can it mean?

[Wolf Vanderlinden]

Here is a transcript of the actual document:

"Ministry of Interior, Medical Administration of Warsaw, December 5, 1886. - In consequence of the application presented by Severin Klosowski, surgical pupil, the Medical Administration hereby testify to the effect that they do not see any reason to oppose his receiving the degree of a Junior Surgeon. The required stamp duties have been paid. - (Signed) Dr. M. Oreszaief, Collegiate Councillor and Inspector, A. Pominski, Secretary."

Klosowski does not seem to have actually been made a Junior Surgeon however, and by February of 1887 he was still paying his hospital fees as an "Assistant Surgeon."

Wolf.

[HelenaWojtczak]

Here is a transcript of the actual document:

"Ministry of Interior, Medical Administration of Warsaw, December 5, 1886. - In consequence of the application presented by Severin Klosowski, surgical pupil, the Medical Administration hereby testify to the effect that they do not see any reason to oppose his receiving the degree of a Junior Surgeon. The required stamp duties have been paid. - (Signed) Dr. M. Oreszaief, Collegiate Councillor and Inspector, A. Pominski, Secretary."

Klosowski does not seem to have actually been made a Junior Surgeon however, and by February of 1887 he was still paying his hospital fees as an "Assistant Surgeon."

Wolf.

Thanks Wolf. The version I had must have been a mistranslation.

Maybe what they were not opposed to was his sitting the exams to gain entry to the university to study to be a surgeon?

[Wolf Vanderlinden]

Hi Helena.

Yes, I think that's the likely answer. He had the requisite training to sit the exam but that he failed, or at least failed to take it, and remained an assistant surgeon. This ties in with what he told people in London, that he was a Feldscher and not a surgeon.

Wolf.

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi Helena.

Yes, I think that's the likely answer. He had the requisite training to sit the exam but that he failed, or at least failed to take it, and remained an assistant surgeon. This ties in with what he told people in London, that he was a Feldscher and not a surgeon.

Wolf.

Hi Wolf

You might have it right. On the other hand, he might have qualified as a junior surgeon but if there was no position open for him as a junior surgeon, he might still have remained an assistant surgeon. Just a thought.

Chris

[Wolf Vanderlinden]

The problem with this, Chris, is that once he passed his exams Klosowski would have been a junior surgeon no matter what. He would have been eligible to call himself a junior surgeon, receive a junior surgeon’s salary and to attend any hospital in the Russian Empire that would have him in order to further his education. When arrested Klosowski didn’t have a junior surgeon’s certificate nor did he tell anyone that he was a junior surgeon. Instead he told people that he was a ‘Feldscher,” or assistant surgeon and, presumably, that’s exactly what he was.

Wolf.

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi Wolf

Thanks for those additional thoughts. You are probably right then that for some reason he did not attain the status of junior surgeon.

Chris