§ DR. TANNERI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if it is a fact that an abnormally high rate of invaliding, 45.52 per 1,000 of strength of the Cork garrison, has been reported and accepted; if this is the result, as alleged, of over route marching; and if attention has been given to the recommendation of the medical officer in charge that if they (the men) were allowed to take things more quietly the high rate of invaliding might be avoided?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe rate of invaliding among the garrison of Cork was 45.53 per 1,000 for the year 1896. No complaint was made by the medical officer of over route marching, but he expressed an opinion as to the effects of route marching in bringing out the weak points of the men, and he compared the system of route marching during the few winter months with the system of shorter marches once or twice a week all the year round. The point is being carefully watched, and the returns for 1897 will show the results of any of the medical officer's recommendations which have been adopted.