§ 7. Mr. RICHARD LAMBERTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can state if the War Office is urging on medical organisations the need for further assistance from the medical profession; and, if such need exists, whether the Army Medical Department will relax the rule which deprives them of the services of recognised experts such as Mr. Barker and of doctors holding American degrees, subject to such precautions and reservations as may be considered necessary?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe War Office is in constant touch with the representatives of the medical profession. Duly qualified American doctors are being employed.
§ 8. Mr. WHITTYasked whether the Army Medical Department has made or will make inquiry as to whether five officers of the 7th Oxfords, now at Salonika, were enabled to serve their country only after receiving manipulative treatment, after all other forms of treatment had failed; and whether the Army Medical Department, having regard to the importance to the Army and to the public of such a fact in the controversy on that subject, will call for an immediate Report?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIf my hon. Friend will furnish me with further particulars, I shall be happy to have inquiry made.
§ 9. Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a daughter of Captain Wade Thompson, J.P., D.L., Clonskeagh Castle, a voluntary worker in Woolwich Arsenal, has been dismissed because she received treatment from Mr. Barker; whether she had previously been treated for eight years by doctors and surgeons for displaced cartilage of the knee but without success; whether she was cured by Mr. Barker in two days; and whether the doctors at the Arsenal surgery acted with the sanction of the Army Council or the Army Medical Department in dismissing a munition worker for the offence of getting cured by a practitioner whose name is not on the medical register?
§ Sir W. EVANSI have been asked to answer this question. The answers to the first and last parts of the question are in the negative. As to the second and third parts, the Ministry of Munitions have no official information.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this young lady has made a sworn declaration before a commissioner of oaths that all the facts stated in this question are true; that her father, a magistrate and deputy-lieutenant, has also made a declaration confirming that; and will he now give a sworn inquiry? May I have an answer to that?
§ Sir W. EVANSI am not aware of the facts my hon. Friend states. If he will communicate with me, I will see what can be done in the matter.
§ Mr. PRINGLECan the hon. Gentleman say whether this young lady was actually dismissed, and, if so, what was the reason for her dismissal?
§ Sir W. EVANSI believe she was not dismissed.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIs the hon. Gentleman aware that she was out of work for two weeks, that they refused to allow her to-resume work, that she was receiving no pay during the time she was out, and how can the hon. Gentleman say she was not dismissed?
§ Sir W. EVANSShe was not dismissed, because she left her employment. She subsequently returned to her employment, as I am informed.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIs it not a fact that the young lady was refused permission to resume work, that she was out of work 193 for two weeks, and it was only when this question appeared on the Paper that she was asked to resume work?
§ Sir W. EVANSIt does not accord with my information.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWell, it is absolutely true. I will put another question down.