§ MR. T. W. NUSSEY (Pontefract)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, if he has inquired into the case of John Parke, a soldier in the King's Own York Light Infantry, who died on 7th April at Pontefract after he had been in hospital only 23 hours; whether he is aware of the circumstances which led up to his death—namely, that Parke had reported himself sick, but had been sent back to duty by the brigade surgeon, Dr. Bramwell, three times, who alleged that he was shamming, and only on the last occasion did he order "medicine and duty;" whether he is aware that, without any inquest, a post mortem examination was held by Dr. Bramwell, assisted by one other surgeon; and whether, in view of the fact that the post mortem examination revealed a state of disease that ought to have received immediate attention from Dr. Bramwell, without waiting for the chance observation of Captain Mooney on parade, who ordered him to hospital, he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANIn this case, of which I can only speak with the greatest regret, full inquiry was made last month, with the result 234 that the medical officer concerned has been removed from his appointment for error of judgment and neglect of duty in not sooner admitting the deceased to hospital. It has also been intimated to the officer that he will not be employed again. The local authorities did not consider an inquest necessary; but a civil practitioner took part in the post mortem examination.