§ SIR WALTER FOSTERI beg to ask the Under Secretary of Slate for War whether there is any rule in the Army Medical Department that surgeon colonels who are over 57 years of age are debarred from promotion to the rank of surgeon-major general; if so, whether such a rule has ever been published; whether it has been applied to any officers, and, if so, to how many, and, whether, if applied retrospectively, any compensation has been, or will be, granted, as was the case when the age of retirement was altered by the warrant of 1858?
§ MR. BRODRICKAll promotion to the higher grades on the Army Medical Staff are by selection, and, consequently, failure to be promoted is not a ground for compensation. It has been for some years the practice not to promote officers over the age of 57 years to the rank of surgeon-major general, unless in very exceptional circumstances, as it is regarded as essential that an officer in that rank shall have at least three years to serve. The rule has not been published, and has applied, so far, to three officers.