'Mesopotamia Commission. Report of the Commission Appointed by Act of Parliament to Enquire into the Operations of War in Mesopotamia, together with a Special Report by Commander J Wedgwood, DSO, MP, and Appendices. London: HMSO, 1917.' [‎49r] (97/248)

PART X.—MEDICAL BREAKDOWN.
95
G. Medical Findings and Recommendations.
were spasmodic, and in no case had these officers power to give orders or settle impor
tant questions without further reference to Simla or Delhi. Further, all power being
concentrated at Headquarters, the ruling authorities deprived themselves of the
value of being in constant touch with those going to,or returning from .Mesopotamia.
If it was true as alleged that the Headquarter Staff at Simla were tied to their secre
tariat work there, the Bombay Government was on the spot and common-sense would
have suggested the delegation of authority to a Government so conveniently situated.
(c) At the Port of Embarkation the embarkation staffs should be responsible for
seeing that the equipment and personnel of each medical unit should not be separated
in different vessels, but embarked together in the same vessel. This rule was frequently
neglected at Bombay.
(d) There should be an immediate and general improvement in the whole standard
of comfort, and accommodation in the hospitals for British troops in India. Surgeon-
General MacNeece stated “ even now there are practically not more than 2 or 3 up-to-
date military hospitals in India.” We are glad to note that the new war hospitals
in Bombay are reported by the Yincent-Bingley Commission as bearing favourable
comparison with any similar hospitals in the United Kingdom. This shows what can
be done in India when there is impulse to reform. We think it discreditable to the
Indian Government that the general standard of hospitals in India should fall below
the standard of efficiency now demanded in Military Hospitals at home. To assist in
reforming this state of things, we think that the R.A.M.C. or a corps on similar lines
should be available for service in all British Hospitals in India, and that a better and
more complete female nursing service should also be organised.
(e) As regards the medical treatment of Indian troops, no time should be lost in
substituting a Station Hospital system for the present regimental treatment, “ I doubt,”
one I.M.S. witness says to us, “ whetfier you gentlemen would consider that the Sepoys’
hospitals in peace time in India are hospitals at all.” Sir Havelock Charles described
them as “ a disgrace to the Government of India.” Surgeon-General MacNeece
states “ there are no well-equipped operating theatres, X-ray rooms, laboratories, etc.”
and Sir William Babtie,“ they are so bad that I think it would be necessary to reform
them ab initio” The new Indian hospitals should be staffed by enlisted personnel
of all ranks, and should be used for building up trained reserves of menial establish
ments in peace time.
(/) All deficiencies usually allowed to prevail in peace-time in the mobilisation
equipment of general hospitals should be made good. Sir W. Babtie told us that of
the general hospitals in India, “ Twelve were supposed to be mobilisable, but only
four were complete in all the different Departments of supply.” All such equipment
should be stored and in readiness, and inspected, as is done now in the case of field
ambulances, casualty clearing hospitals and stationary hospitals.
{g) Base Depots of Medical Stores should be reintroduced into the Indian Field
Service organisation and kept ready for mobilisation.
(h) At the outset of every campaign there should be provided a separate superior
sanitary organisation and staff charged with the arrangements for preserving and safe
guarding the health of the fighting troops, and responsible to the Principal Medical
Officer of the force, but otherwise entirely separate from the organisation for the care
of the sick and wounded This implies a formation in peace time of an adequate
reserve of sanitary officers enlisting in it, if necessary, the services of ’ specialists in
civil employment.
{i) The Field Service Ration should receive very careful reconsideration and altera
tion in the light of experience in Mesopotamia. This especially applies to the rations
for Indian troops. The War Office Sanitary Committee found that even “ the improved
ration ” sanctioned as late as October last was deficient in many respects.
The above are only some of the defects revealed by our investigations, but they
are sufficient to prove the necessity for an urgent, and thorough reform by the Indian
Government of the whole system upon which their medical services are based, and
under which they are controlled. Sir Alfred Keogh, whose administration at the War
Office as Director-General, Army Medical Services, has been very successful during
this war, at the conclusion of his evidence made the following very strong statement:—
I have no hesitation whatever in saying that the medical arrangements connected with the Army in
India have been for years and years most disgraceful. I say that with a full sense of responsibility.
I have served many years in India. I have not been there for some time now, but in my opinion things
are not better than they were. Anything more disgraceful than the carelessness and want of attention
with regard to the sick soldier in India it is impossible to imagine.