§ Captain CLIVEasked the Secretary of State for War if he was aware that several non-commissioned officers and private soldiers, who had been found to be enteric germ-carriers, having contracted enteric fever in India and elsewhere abroad, were confined as such, and had been for many months in military hospitals; that various experiments had been tried on them by inoculation and other means so far, ap- 1193 parently, without result; and if he could say under what section of the Army Act these soldiers were deprived for such long and indefinite periods of their liberty?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe question evidently refers to the seven non-commissioned officers and men under treatment at Mill-bank Military Hospital. I am informed that the condition of these cases rendered them dangerous to their comrades in barracks. It was, therefore, decided, on the recommendation of the Army Medical Advisory Board, to place them under special treat went to see if their condition is curable. This treatment has met with encouraging results, and one, at least, of the cases, it is hoped, has been cured. Although patients in hospital, they are allowed considerable freedom, and are not treated as ordinary patients, but rather as convalescents.
§ Captain CLIVECan the right hon. Gentleman say for how long these men are likely to he confined against their will?
§ Mr. HALDANEThey will be free so soon as the danger of the bacilli which they brought to this country has been destroyed.
§ Captain CLIVEIs it not, quite an unproved theory in regard to this germ carrying?
§ Mr. HALDANENo; I do not think so. The advance in medical science on this subject within the last two years has been enormous.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDAre these experiments being made with the sanction of the men; and in the case of permanent injury to their health will the men be pensioned'?
§ Mr. HALDANEI do not know why the hon. Member treats these as experiments; they are a well-known ascertained cure.
§ Sir WILLIAM COLLINSWill the right Lon. Gentleman be so good as to lay Papers on the subject of these interesting pathological investigations?
§ Mr. HALDANEwas understood to say that he would have no objection to so doing.
§ Mr. J. F. REMNANTWhile they are detained are these men in receipt of full pay?
§ Mr. HALDANEThere are certain deductions made from the pay of men in hospital, but they are on the active list.