§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will say, approximately, what number of men returned from the War are suffering from shock, insomnia, nervous exhaustion, hallucination, and the various other forms of temporary mental aberration for which rest, sleep, and humane treatment in quiet surroundings are the natural remedy; how many of them have been placed in asylums; whether he is aware that confining those men together in asylums, subject to the discipline applied to the insane, tends to make their malady incurable and diminishes their chance of future employment, even if cured; whether officers suffering similarly are treated similarly; having regard to the willingness of many families residing in quiet country places to entertain one each of such sufferers gratis or for trifling payment, during the few months necessary for recovery, after which any incurable cases could be sent to asylums, whether some such system of boarding-out will be considered; and, if already considered, will he say what is the reason against its adoption?
§ Mr. TENNANTFor a detailed explanation of the policy of the War Office, in reference to such cases, I would refer the1324W hon. Member to answers given by me on the following dates: 4th February, 11th February, 11th March, 13th May, 19th May, 10th June, and 14th June. The question of boarding patients of the kind in the manner suggested has been considered, but the practical difficulties in the way are considered insuperable.