§ 9. General Sir IVOR HERBERTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any arrangements have been made for the special treatment of recruits found to be suffering from defective eyesight caused by the conditions under which they have been industrially employed before enlistment which renders them temporarily unfit for military service?
§ Mr. TENNANTMen suffering from the severer forms of defective eyesight should not, of course, be enlisted, and if by any chance they have got into the Army they should be discharged. Men suffering from the milder forms would receive the same treatment that they would have in civil life, i.e., correction of any error of refraction, tonic drugs, rest or modified exercises, and local treatment to the eye.
§ General Sir IVOR HERBERTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a very large number of men have been discharged for temporary defects, especially men who have been working underground and who have not received treatment?
§ Mr. TENNANTI understand there is a form of disease of the eye which it is very difficult to treat, and possibly those are the cases which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind. If he will bring specific cases to my notice I shall be glad to inquire into them.