20 FEBRUARY 1915, Page 14

INOCULATION—A SPLENDID RECORD.

I To vs. Roma or vas “tirscrovon."1

SIR,—I have no wish to refer to the controversial aspects of inoculation, but I desire to lay before you and your readers some facts as to the work done at one hospital in connexion with the war. The doctors engaged in inoculation gave up one-half of their honorarium at the beginning of the war, and they have since prepared and sent millions of doses to the Belgian, British, French, and Russian armies. In addition, they have inoculated without fee all doctors, nurses, and soldiers who presented themselves. All this work requires skilled scientists and cannot be delegated•. If a charge of twopence a dose had been made, the inoculation department could have replaced what the hospital is losing in subscriptions, and bad an enormous surplus. No charge was made, not even for the cost of material and glans bottles, but the British Government has lately granted a sum which exceeds by a little the out-of-pocket expenses. I learnt these facts from visiting one of the doctors. I found that he had curtailed his holiday and was working until ten o'clock at night and all Sunday. After some days I discovered that be got up at five o'clock in the morning in order to be uninterrupted while doing research work for the troops. I do not publish my name because it might identify the hospital, and I might be suspected of advertising the hospital or the doctors. That is not my object. I have too much respect for the spirit in which Englishmen are serving the Empire—in the trenches, at sea, or in the laboratory—without pausing to consider whether they will get pay or honour or gratitude.—I am, Sir, Ac.,

J. J.