§ COLONEL CRICHTON STUARTsaid, he would beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, How many men were sent to Hospital, and whether two men died in consequence of too long exposure to the heat, on the occasion of the recent Review at Aldershot; and also whether it is intended to provide in the huts at Aldershot one room for each soldier married with leave, more than one family being now lodged in one room?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON, in reply, said, he was very happy to be able to 1161 state that there had been some exaggeration in regard to what happened at the late Review at Aldershot. He would read an extract from the Report of the Inspector General of Hospitals at Aldershot for the week ending the 17th of. July 1863, which would explain the matter—
There is a slight increase in the ratio of sick to strength. This increase is principally noticeable in the order 'miasmatic' diseases, and is due probably to the unusual heat of the weather, to which, under circumstances of considerable fatigue, the men were exposed at the grand field-day on the 14th instant. On that occasion Sergeant James Casey, 87th Fusileers, fell dead in the ranks. The post mortem examination showed valvular disease of the heart of long standing, of which the man had not complained. The above is the only death that occurred on the field-day. The man died on the march to, and not at, the Review, and his death is not, therefore, attributable to length of exposure.As to the other question of the hon. and gallant Gentleman, there was certainly not so much accommodation at Aldershot as was desirable, but more than one family never lived in a single room. Considerable improvements had already been effected in the accommodation for the soldiers, but he did not deny that something still remained to de done in that way; the subject, however, was under consideration. The House, notwithstanding, must remember that any improvement must cost money.