27. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has any official information showing that 200 men belonging to one Cavalry regiment became seriously ill with symptoms of blood poisoning after inoculation against typhoid; if so, will he say whether two or three of them died; whether the two doctors who performed the inoculation were on inquiry found to be Austrians, tried by court-martial, and sentenced to penal servitude; and what steps have been, or will be, taken to ensure soldiers in future against the dangers of inoculation?
§ Mr. TENNANTThere is no official information corresponding in any way to the statements in the first three parts of the question. No one has heard of the Austrian doctors who have been sentenced to 162 penal servitude. Perhaps my hon. Friend will furnish me with the information which is in his possession. I may add that every precaution is taken to protect soldiers against any risk of sepsis arising from inoculation.
§ 61. Mr. YEOasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Second-Lieutenant Beate, of the Connaught Rangers, who was buried at Cork on 15th March, 1915, died of septic poisoning caused by inoculation against typhoid at Kinsale; and whether he was inoculated two or three times during the course of his illness?
§ Mr. TENNANTThere are no grounds whatever for my hon. Friend's suggestion that this young officer's death was due to septic poisoning caused by inoculation against typhoid. He had not been so inoculated since his arrival in the command. He is reported to have died of septicaemia due to absorption from an abscess of the heel, and he received as treatment during his illness injections of antistrepto-coccus serum properly given.
§ 41. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the privilege of leave or furlough is denied a soldier who declines to be inoculated; and whether it is a military offence for a soldier to complain in writing of any grievance to the Secretary of State for War?
§ Mr. TENNANTAs I have already explained on previous occasions, the privilege leave given to inoculated soldiers who were shortly proceeding to the front, to enable them to visit their homes, was not extended to men who declined to be inoculated and who were consequently selected to remain in this country. The manner in which an officer or soldier should seek redress for any grievance is laid down in the Army Act, and any officer or soldier who adopts other methods is guilty of a military offence.
Mr. CHANCELLORWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether inoculated men will be given this permission before they go to the front, if they go to the front?
§ Mr. TENNANTYes, I think I can give that assurance.