§ SIR GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether a scheme of sanitary re-organisation has yet been prepared for the Army, or proposed by the Medical Advisory Board. if so, whether there is included in it the sterilisation of all fluids employed as drinks at manœuvres, on service abroad, and during active service, and by what means this sterilisation is to be secured; whether steps have been taken to secure the instruction, practical training, and examination of non-medical officers of all ranks, in their respective units or commands, in methods of camp sanitation, especially with a view to the prevention of enteric fever, dysentery. and cholera; and whether, after such training and examination, the comparative responsibility of such nonmedical officers for the occurrence of these diseases in their respective commands or units is to be recognised.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY To THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. BROMLEY DAVENPORT,) Cheshire, MacclesfieldThe Medical Advisory Board recommend the appointment of specialist sanitary officers to Army Corps and commands; and there are eleven of these appointments at home and eight in Egypt and the Colonies, in addition to the five already existing in India. Instructions regarding the sterilisation of all fluids employed as drinks, which are applicable to manœuvres, service abroad, and active service, have been included in the "Manual of Combined Training." Heat, and, in some instances, filtration, are the means recommended. Lectures are regularly given to the cadets at Sandhurst and Woolwich, and a more advanced course in military hygiene is provided for officers at the Staff College. Instructions in hygienic matters are also given by the specialist sanitary officers. The regulations are also being revised in the direction of devolving more responsibility 232 upon non-medical officers in the supervision of sanitary services in barracks and camps.