HC Deb 17 December 1908 vol 198 cc2111-2
MR. LUPTON (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has received a letter drawing his attention to a suggestion of Surgeon N. Howard Mummery, M.R.C.S., of the Royal Navy, that in the near future men on joining the service will be vaccinated against syphilis, at the same time and in the same way as they are now vaccinated against small pox, and asking for an assurance that no man on entering the Navy shall incur the risk of compulsory blood-poisoning with syphilis passed through apes; whether he gave that assurance, or, if not, whether he can state why it was withheld; and whether he is willing to lay the whole correspondence relating to this subject upon the Table.

MR. McKENNA

I have received such a letter as is referred to by my hon. friend, and I replied to the effect that there were no circumstances which justified such an inquiry being addressed to me.

MR. LUPTON

Does not the suggestion meet the right hon. Gentleman's, approval?

MR. McKENNA

There is no ground for supposing it does.