2
222 large a question across the t100r of the House. But I will say that, speaking generally, that is a medical matter, and the medical authorities would state whether they considered that the actual service of the State had been the reason for the breakdown of the man. If it had been the man would, of course, receive the pension to which he was entitled. Military Service and the Medically Unfit. Mr. ALDEN asked the Under Secretary for War whether single men who previous to the Derby scheme had offered themselves for enlistment and were rejected as medically unfit, and who, under the circumstances, thought it unneces- sary to attest under the Derby scheme, were included in the Military Service Bill; and whether he would see to it that they were not conscripted and compelled to attest.-Mr. TENNANT answered: As the Bill stands these men are not excluded, but if their physical disability still renders them unfitted for any form of military service they cannot be held to serve. THURSDAY, JAN. 13TH. An Officer of the Australian Medical Corps. Captain AMERY asked the Under Secretary for War whether Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. Barrett, Australian Medical Corps, occupied the imperial appointments of Assistant Director of Medical Services on the staff of the Director of Medical Services, Egypt, and consulting oculist to His Majesty’s forces in Egypt; whether he was removed from these offices without inquiry by the Australian Government on a recommendation of the Army Council, which the general officer commanding in Egypt subsequently pointed out was due to a misunderstanding; whether a court of inquiry bad been held and what was the finding of that court ; and whether, if that report was favourable, the Army Council was prepared to reinstate Lieutenant-Colonel Barrett, or whether he was prepared to make any statement with regard to the value of the work done by Lieutenant- Colonel Barrett.-Mr. TENNANT replied: I believe the facts as stated in the first two parts of the question are substantially correct. A court of inquiry was held in Egypt in October last year, and in its finding the court exonerated Lieutenant-Colonel Barrett and spoke in the highest terms of his work. The High Commissioner of the Commonwealth was informed that there was no objection to Lieutenant-Colonel Barrett being employed in Egypt or elsewhere provided that the Government of the Commonwealth concurred. Soldiera and Surgical Boots. Colonel WHITE asked the Under Secretary for War whether he was aware that there was a considerable number of young soldiers who were either unfitted for drafts or had to be discharged from the service owing to their suffering from hammer toes or similar disability; and whether he would consider the advisability, in the less aggravated cases, of having these men fitted with surgical boots which might render them fit for service in any event with a non-combatant unit.-Mr. TENNANT wrote in reply : In the opinion of my medical advisers the issue of surgical boots to the men mentioned is not likely to render them fit for service, and even if such boots were issued it would be quite impossible to replace them if they were lost or worn out on service. Vaccination Statistics. Mr. PATRICK WHITE asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board whether he could state the number of children vaccinated in Great Britain in the years 1913, 1914, and 1915, respectively, and the number exempted on account of conscientious objections on the part of their parents; and whether any and, if so, how many prosecutions were instituted against parents for non-compliance with the law during each of the years mentioned.-Mr. HAYES FISHER answered: The number of successful vaccinations for which vaccination officers received certificates at all ages in England and Wales was in 1913, 430,470; and in 1914, 404,616 ; and the number of declara- tions of conscientious objection to vaccination in 1913, 308,235; and in 1914, 321,313. I cannot give the actual number of children vaccinated nor the figures for 1915, which are not vet available. As to the figures for Scotland a question should be addressed to the Secretary for Scotland. It appears from the criminal statistics for the year 1913 that 146 persons were proceeded against in that year for offences against the Vaccination Acts. The statistics for 1914 and 1915 have not yet been published. TUESDAY, JAN. 18TH. The Eyesight of Recruits. Sir JOHN ROLLESTON asked the Under Secretary for War whether the War Office was aware that only a medical eye specialist was capable of deciding whether a would-be recruit with defective vision was or was not suitable for military service, seeing that the sight tests did not discriminate between disease and errors of refraction corrigible by lenses ; and why the services of medical eye specialists were not made use of by the War Office.-Mr. TENNANT wrote in reply: Medical eye specialists are made use of by the War Office in cases where their services are considered to be required. Sir JOHN ROLLESTON asked the right honourable gentleman whether it was the case that the War Office did not recognise the certificate of medical eye specialists with respect to the sight of would-be recruits.-Mr. TENNANT replied: The certificates of medical eye specialists are treated in exactly the same way as certificates from any other medical men. They may aid the medical examiner of recruits, but they cannot absolve him from his responsibility in passing or rejecting the recruit. In cases of doubtful vision the recruit will be referred for the opinion of an official medical eye specialist. Sir JOHN RoLLESTON also asked the right honourable gentleman whether he would consider the advisability of recruits who failed to respond freely to the sight tests being at once sent to a medical eye specialist to be examined as to their visual fitness for enlistment, and to obtain the needed prescription if glasses would bring the sight up to the required standard.-Mr. TENNANT answered: Special oph- thalmic surgeons are available in all commands to whom cases of doubt or difficulty will be referred. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 19TH. Medical Studerats and Military Service. During the debate in Committee on the Military Service Bill, Mr. J. H. THOMAS moved an amendment that a certificate of exemption might be granted to a man own the ground that he is a medical student who can more advantageously complete his medical training in order to render national service as a medical practitioner." Mr. TENNANT (Under Secretary for War said that it was proposed to-continue the War Office policy that students in the fourth and fifth years should be left to continue their studies. That was to say, those who had passed the examination in the third year would be free. Those who failed to pass the examination in the third year would not be considered in that category. The first- and second-year students would be held for service in the forces of the Crown. The Government was carefully examining the whole position with regard to the possible shortage of medical men in the future. It had for that purpose enlisted the services of Sir Donald MacAlister, President of the General Medical Council, who had undertaken a careful survey of the whole situation in the medical schools and was going to report to the Government on the subject. Mr. SNOWDEN expressed regret that the Government was not prepared to take a longer view of the situation. The amendment was withdrawn. Appointments. Successful applicants for vacancies, Secretaries of Public Institutions, and others possessing information suitable jor this cul2enaoa, are invited to forward to THE LANCET Office, directed to the aub- Editor, not later than 9 o’clock on the Thursday morning of each week, sllch information for gratuitous publication. ANDERSON, C. B C. (Final Year Student), has been appointed to the Surgical Out-patient Depa tment at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. BLAIR, C. E., M.B , Ch.B. Edin, has been appointed Resident Phy- sician at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. BuRNET, J., M.D. Edin , has been appointed Certifying Surgeon under the Factory and Workshop Acts for the Edinburgh, South District of the. county of Edinburgh. CARBCTHERS, G. J. R., M.B., Ch.B. E,Iin., has been appointed Certify- ing Surgeon under the Factory and Workshop Acts for the Edin- burgh, North District of the county of Edinburgh. FERGUSON. H. F., M.B., Ch B. Edin.. has been appointed Resident Physician at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. GALT. H. M., M.B. Glasg., D P.H., Captain R.A.M.C. (T.F.), has been appointed Additional Examiner in Medical Jurisprudence and Public Health for Degrees in Science and Medicine at Glasgow University. GIBSON, A. KEITH (Final Year Student), has been appointed Resident Surgeon at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. MALCOLM-SMITH, G. L. (Fmal Year Student), has been appointed Clinical Assistant at the E .inbnrgb Royal Infirmary. PRENTICE. ADAM (Final Year Student), has been appointed Resident Surgeon at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. PURNELL, CHARLOTTE, 11 B., B.S. Durh., has been appointed Senior House Surgeon at the Bolton Infirmary. SLOAN, SAMUEL, M.D. Griasg, has been appointed Examiner in Mid- wifery and Diseases of Women to the University of Glasgow. SMELLIE JAMES M. (Final Year Student), has been appointed Resident Physician at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. WRIGHT, H D. (Final Year Student). has been appointed Resident Surgeon at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Vacancies. For further intormraLion regarding each vacancy reference should be made to the advertisement (see Index). When the applicati on of a Belilian medical man would be considered The rcdvertisers are requested to communicate with the Editor. ABERGAVENNY, MONMOUTH COUNTY ASYLUM.-Temporary Assistant Medical Otticer. Salary B7 7s. per week, with board, apartments, and attendance.
