COLONEL NOLANI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury would Her Majesty's Government consider the propriety of communicating with other civilised Governments to ascertain if the latter would join in conferring a reasonable pecuniary reward on Dr. Koch, for the eminent services he has rendered to humanity?
§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)Before the First Lord answers the question of my hon. and gallant Friend, I would like to ask him whether he has also taken into account the extraordinary percentage of deaths that have occurred in connection with this alleged discovery?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI am sure the hon. Gentleman will not expect me to express an opinion on that subject. For myself, I thoroughly appreciate the 1290 generous instincts which have prompted the hon. and gallant Gentleman to put this question; but without in the slightest degree depreciating the very great services to humanity which have been rendered by Dr. Koch, it must be admitted he does not stand, alone as a learned, patient, and laborious investigator of the resources of nature for the benefit of mankind. His great reward is the evident appreciation of the value of his work by his own profession in all parts of the world, and the sense of the benefits he has conferred upon his fellow-creatures. I do not think any action of Her Majesty's Government could really add to the satisfaction Dr. Koch must feel at the reception given by the civilised world to his discovery, and perhaps I may be excused for hesitating to add a new function to the responsibilities of Government.