§ MR. SIDNEY HERBERTsaid, he wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary for War the question of which he had given him notice. It was stated in the accounts recently received from India that many regiments were proceeding up the country without any European medical professional assistance. He understood there was great difficulty in obtaining medical men for our army in consequence of no improvement having as yet been carried out in their rank, pay, and general position. He believed that a plan was under the consideration of the Government which was intended to remedy that inconvenience, and to give those medical gentlemen a better status in the army than they had at present. He wished to know whether it was likely that any such plan would soon receive the sanction of the Government or be promulgated?
GENERAL PEELsaid, there had been certainly a difficulty in securing for our army the number of medical men required. The plan recommended by the right hon. Gentleman had been considered, and was now placed before the Treasury for their approbation. He hoped that it would be soon brought into operation.