Star.
London, England, 1810-02-10 00:00:00

THE INQUIRY.
MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.

THIRD DAY, FEBRUARY 6.
The Right Hon. Sir JOHN ANSTAUTHIER, Bart. in the Chair.

TI.MAS KEATI, Esq. Surgeon 'General of the Army, called in ;
Examined by the Committee. '
Were you consulted respecting the diseases pre-
valent in the island of Walcheren, before the sailing
of the late expedition ?—I was not.
Were you at any time subsequently consulted upon
that subject, and when ?—I was consulted upon that
subject only so late as the latter end of September.
Are you conversant with the nature of the com-
plaint prevalent in Walcheren ?—I have understood
it tobe the bilious remitting fever.
Previous to the sailing of the expedition, were you
acquainted with the prevalence of that disorder at a
particular season of the year in the province of Zea-
land ?—No otherwise than by the publication of Sir
John Pringle.
Had you known the destination of that army at
that season of the year, should you have thought it
necessary to take other precautions than were taken,
to obviate the effects of the malady ?—I should cer-
tainly have made representations to that effect. .
What is the nature of the representations you
would have thought it your duty to make ?—To have
obviated the effects of the sickness as far as lay in my
power by such representations.
Do you think that the effects of the disorder could
have been in any degreeremedied by any precaution ?
Certainly precautions might have been taken that
might have lessened the malady.
Was it known to you. that the Walcheren malady
was prevalent at that particular season of the year at
wii:ch the expedition sailed ?—lt was, as I have de-
s.ribed before, by the publication mentioned.
What are the nature of the precautions to which
you allude ?—Medicines that might have been admi-
nistered for preventing the ill effects of the disease by
the season, such as Sir John Pringle describes; which
I. no not recollect exactly.
Do you think that any precautions, such as diffe-
rent clothing, or any other mode of disposing of the
troops, or any hospital furniture which was deficient
would have been of any avail to remedy the disorder?
I thitik the greatest care was taken upon that subject.
Were you at any time applied to, to send out ad-
ditional assistance ?—After the sickness commenced.
• At what period were you applied to for that pur- I
pose ?—The beg using of September, to the best of
my recollection.
What were the directions you then received ?—A
certain number of the Staff Officers were required,
and they were provided accordingly.
How many ?—I think that the first was two phy-
ecians, four surgeons, and twenty hospital mates :
but I can refer to documents it the Committee pleases,
but which documents I have not now with me.
Was there any difficulty in procuring the number
of Mates that were required ?—There appeared to be
very great difficulty, but it being the exclusive pro-
vince of the Inspector General of Hospitals to pro.
vide Hospital Mates, I would beg to refer to him for
information.
.Do you know what is the present state of that part
of the detachment of the Guards which served in
V.Talcherfri, with respect to sickness ?—I have no con-
- cern at all with the Guards, and do not.
In whose Medical Department are the Guards ?
Under their own respective surgeons.
To whom do those Surgeons report I appre-
hend to their Commanding Officers, but I am not
certain they do not report to the Medical Board.
Is the Committee to understand that the Guards
are under an exclusive Staff, and are not under the

Medical Staff ? —Yes.
State to the Committee what the course of Office
it - ith - -t to the medical arrangements of the
apartment the Medical Board re-
rom the War Offico.
Office receive an order or instruc-
lander in Chief, with respect to
be provided for ?--Yes.
Committee whether it does not rest
'le Medical Board, what the
na-
arrangements shall be for the
are directed to provide for ? It
.tcal Board to state the extent of
they are ordered to make provision
of men.
first acquainted that the destina.
•as to Walcheren and to the
I received letters from the In-
:hen in the Scheldt or Walcheren.
those letters Z—The first letter I
Lgust the Bth, Middleburg ; receiv-

er of notoriety to you, as early
that the expedition was gone to
no reason to think so from any
id, and I do not recollect the
'uly ; it might be so.
that official intelligence was re-
of the arrival of the armament
trly as the Ist of August ?—I
; I have not a recollection of it.
Jection when the army first began
The date of the first letter to that
of August.
,etter received ?—The Ist of Sep-

letter now in your hand ?—I have
• the abstract of it, if it is desired.
e of it ? —The substance of that
,ve, only some recommendations ;
the 20t1;, 'was for additional
two physicians, four surgeons,
r, one deputy purveyor, and twelve
'stead of twenty, as I mentioned

le the amount of the sick in the
--I believe not ; but the document

illect that the general state of the
the 20th of August, was generally
iy so ?—lt was stated t 2 me to be
and as a proof of it, the% were no
very few with the wounded, who

ight that any peculiar medical ar.
tion to those you had recommend-
of the expedition were advisable

•
to be adopted, why did not you recommend the
carry them into effect nn the authority the "Med
Board possessed between the beginning of the =ea
and the 20th of August ?—The Medical Board ha\
only to obey orders, and it was not their province. a
I conceive-to form arrangements ; but in the middle
of September I was called before the Cabinet, where
I suggested the propriety of selecting, physicians to go
over and ascertain the nature of the disease and report.
Do not you consider it the duty of the Medical
Department to make representations to Government,
in any instance where they think extraordinary at.:
rangements are necessary to the health of his Majesty's
troops ?—The Board has not been called upon
make representations concerning arrangements, and
their conceived they would have exceeded their duty
if they had voluntarily stepped forward.
Did not Lord Castlereagh desire to see you upon
this subject early in September ?—When I hail the
honour of a message from Lord Castlereagh to that
effect, I was upon tke Coast making arrangements
for the reception of the sick from Walcheren. At
my return 1 immediately waited upon his Lordship
at the office, and saw his Lordship's Secretaty : it
was upon that occasion that I had the honoer of be-
ing called as I before stated before the Cabinet.
Do not you recollect Lord Castlereagh having
more than one conversation with you upon this sub-
ject, and requesting you would attend his Majesty's
Ministers for the purpose of suggesting. to them the
best measures which occurred to your mind for the re-
lief of the sickniss to which the army wasexposed ?
I recollect it perfectly well ' • his Lordship desired me
to wait upon his Majesty's Ministers, and asked me
whether I had any thing to suggest ; I answered his
Lordship, that I conceived the only thing we could
do at that time, was to send over all the assistance in
our power, with bark and wine and porter, and to
remove as many of the sick as could be removed to
England.
In consequence of that communication you had
with Lord Castlereagh, were not three Physicians
sent to Walcheren to make a special report upon the
sickness of the army ?—Subsequently to that conver-
sation with his Lordship, there were three Physicians
sent to Walcheren.
Have you any reason, from the reports you received
from the Officers who corresponded with you in. the
army, to suppose there was any actoal want of medi-
cines experienced by the sick of the army ?—From
every thing I can collect from that correspondence, I
have no reason to think that the sick were in want of

medicines at any one time.
You have stated that the Medical Board does not
originate any measure, but receives orders from some
other office ; from what office does the Medical Board
receive directions ?—From the Commander in Chief,
generally through the War Office.
Did you receive no official communication, with
respect to the maladies of the troops in Walcheren,
before the beginning of September ?—Not officially
from Walcheren until the Ist of September.
Did you from any office in this country ?—I had
no communication with any other office than those
mentioned previously to that time.
You had no official communication whatever, with
respect to the diseases of the troops in Walcheren,
previously to the Ist of September ?—To the best of
my recollection I had not.
Do you receive the returns of the sick of the army
regularly ?—Occasionally, but not regularly ; as often
as they can be made up and sent, they are directed
to me.

Did you instruct the Officers of the Medical De-1
partment attending the army in Walcheren to comes- I
pond with you ?—Yes.
You received no communication from them previ-
ously to the I St of September ?—1 have observed that ;
I received a letter on the 12th of August.
Was that a private or an official letter ?—Official.
From whom was that letter ?—From the Inspector
of Hospitals, the head of the department.
Was that the first official communication you -re-
ceived with respect to the state of health of the troops
in Walcheren ?—That was the first communication
that I received respecting the troops in Walcheren,l
and was accompanied with a number of wounded, to
the best of my recollection.
Were there any sick mentioned in that return ?
There were sick and wounded, very few sick ; the
whole number not exceeding 300.
Was the sickntss therein stated, the fever which
was afterwards so prevalent among the troops in
Waleheren ?--It was not.
When did you first hear of that disease ?—On the
Ist of September.
From whom did you hear of that ?—From the same
officer.!
When did you receive your first communication
from Lord Castlereagh un the subject of the disease
of the troops. in \Valcheren ?—I think it was on the

23d of September.
Are returns regularly made to you of the state
of the health of the troops at home ?—On the occa-
sion of the sickness prevailing in the army from Wal-
cheren, the superintendance and charge of them de-
volved upon me, and I have received regular returns
upon that occasion.
Have you those returns with you ?-1 have not—
they are in the Office.
Do those returns comprehend all the sick, or
merely those afflicted with the Walcheren fever ?
An the sick.
Arc those afflicted with the Walcheren fever dis-
tinguished from the other sick ?--They are.
Is the Committee to understand that there are or
are not regular returns made of the sick of the army,
and the nature of their diseases, at stated periods, to
the Medical Board or any member of it ?—Of the
army in general, to the Medical Board, we make a
report monthly to the Commander in Chief.
Did the Medical Board receive directions from the
War Office to prepare hospitals for the reception of
the sick and wounded from Walcheren, and at what
period did it receive those directions ?—They receiv-
ed directions to prepare hospitals for the reception of
the sick from Walcheren, but the period I do not re-
i collect, but it may be very easily obtained.
Was it not on the 4th of August ?—lt is an offi-
cial document, and can tki produced to the Cotomit.
tee at any moment, but I have it not in my recollec-
tion.

You state that the first letter you received from
Walcheren, containing an account of the disesua in
the army was on the lst of September ; are you quite
certain as to that date have every reason to think

thattiiis Is torten, which I bait tale alteon the let-
ters dalloselves ; it is stated t be dated on the 20th ;
alette"ated the itth was eertainlyrectiied ; but it
Cellitaieed nothing best recommendations for promo-
tion.
What is the date of The letter you received on the
Ist of September ?--I received them both on the Ist
of Seßtember ; the date of the first was the-19th, and
of .the second the 20th of August.
Is the Committee to understand, that if you had
known the destination of the hxpedition to be to
Walcheten, you would have made representations to
Government of the nature of the diseases incident to
that island ?—lf called upon so to do.
Not otherwise ?—Not otherwise.
Had you known the destination of the , Expedition
to Walcheren, though not particularly 'called upon,
would you not have provided medicines proper for an
I army going upon that Expedition ?—lf I had known
it had been to Walcheren, I should certainly have
thought it my duty to have sent a larger quantity of
bark ; I conceived it to be a secret Expedition, that
it was not proper I should be informed of.
• Is there any other medicine you would have sent
besides a greater quantity of bark, if you had known
of the destination of that Expedition ?—I conceive
that the medicines were sent in the fullest proportion
for the numbers of the army; therefore I should not
have thought it necessary to add to any thing •but
bark, more particularly as it was so short a distince.
If you would have sent a larger quantity of bark,
had you known that tlae destination was to Walche-
ren, why did you not send that additional quantity
of bark when you knew in fact that the army was
there ?—lt was my duty to wait for information, as I
conceive, from the head of the department, and for
requisitions, without which I have it not in my power
to send out stores or medicines.

When was the first requisition made to /on upon
the subject ?—On the 11th of September, and received
on the. 18th.

- -
From the Inspector of Hospitals ?—Yes.
What did that require ?—Together with many
other medicines, but not in great abundance,looolbs.

of bark.
When was that sent ?—lt was ordered immediately
by me from the Apothecary General the same day ;
the 18th.
Do you know when it was dispatched ?—lt was
delivered to the Storekeeper. General on the 27th of
September, shipped by the Storekeeper General on
the 30th of September, and received into Store in Wal-
cheren on the 15th of October.
Do you know how it happened, that an order, is-
sued by you on the 18th of September, to be executed
-immediately, was not executed till the 27th ?—There
was no request made to have it sent by any express,
in any more immediate manner. It was stated that
the medicines would shortly be wanted.
Do you mean, that in the requisition made to you
from Middleliurgh there was no pressing .request that
it should be sent immediately ?—The word imme-
diately was, I believe, used generally, but not to
desire immediate conveyance by any express, to re-
quire dispatch.
Do you know whether, in point of fact, there was
any want of bark cxperienced•by the sick there .?--I
believe not.
Will you inform the Committee how it happened, I
that you who would have thought it necessary to an-
ticipate this want if you. had known the expedition
was destined to Walcheren, did when you had that
requisition made to you so late as the 18th of Sep-
tember, not think it a pressing demand ?—There was
nothing said that it•was wanted in any hurry ; and I
attend always to the requiisitions.
You did not recollect at that time that you would
have furnished them with a larger quantity of bark,
if you had known that they were destined to Wal-,
cheren ?—Had it been left to me in the first instance
to have furnished bark, I might have furnished a
larger quantity to Walcheren, and I believe should ;
but when it came to be the duty of the Inspector of
Hospitals upon the spot, to give me information and
to make requisitions, I was then obliged to conform
to the requisitions.
How soon could you have sent this bark, if you
had thought it had been immediately required ?—I
believe the bark that was sent over before this reached
Walcheren, went in a very short space of time ; I do
not exactly know what, but there were two quantities
of bark ; one in a division and another subsequently,
that reached Walcheren, I understand, before this
bark did.
When did those two quantities go from England
—Ten divisions of medicines, containing 1 soOlbs.
of bark, were originally sent out with the Expeditien ;
this was taken into the chief depot at Veere, and it
appears that the whole was issued from thence to the
different services by the 7th of October, except some
small quantities in detachment chests.
When did your bark go from England ?—One
thousand pounds of bark were ordered from the Apo-
thecary General on the 18th of September, which
were shipped on the 30th, as I have said before ; they
appeared to have arrived at Flushing some time prior
to the 11th of October.
The 7th of October is the time at which the former
supply was issued out ?—Except what was under the
charge, and in the care of the regimental officer in
the detachment chests.
Did not you state, there were two other quantities
of bark sent out in divisions ?-0n the Isth of Octo-1
ber seven hundred pounds were received into store at
Veere, part of eight hundred pounds which had ar-
rived ,at Flushing by the King George packet.
At what time did that arrive at Flushing ?--It ar-
rived at Flushing, by the King George packet, on
the 11th.
I understood you to say, there were two other par-
cel;,of bark which had arrived at Flushing antecedent.
to lie arrival of that which went from this country
on the 30th of Septembert—They were sent, but I
find not received,.'they were received the day I have
now mentioned to the Committee.
••• When were thef sent ?—lt does not appear what
day they were sent off by my present memorandum,
but they were received on those days.
Does it appear when they were ordered ?—I can
acquaint the Committee by the official papers ; on the
17th, 18th, 26th, and 27th of October, there arrived
on each day 5001bs.
Have you any reason to believe that on or before
the sth of September. an Application was made from
'ate Comm inder ra Chiefs office, to the office of the
Secretary of State, to desire that the Transport Board

would provide tonnage immediately for tl.e
ance of two Physicians, and some other Medical
Officers, 1C believe twenty, together with four tons
medicine ?—I do not recollect it, but nevertheless
may be proved to be so. .
Explain *hat articles are included under the to
of medical comforts ?--I cot rider wine, porter, barley,
rice, oatmeal, Ece.
Do you know that there were a sufficient nutnber
of medical comforts at all times for the army inV
cheren ?---,They do not fall under my cognizance.
Under whose cognizance does that fall ?—TheCom.
missary General.
Do you know that at one period in the ;skied
Walcheren there were not more than three hur
pounds of bark in store, a quantity stated as not
than sufficient for five days' consumption ?--;
not informed of any such deficiency ; but when
a report of only fitgi pounds in store, I very
heard, in a very few days more, that there w;
hundred pounds more foutid on board a vessel.
At what time did you receive that repine
pounds only of bark being in store ?-011 the th
October.
Do you know that at any time there was
sufficient quantity of bark to administer to the
the island of Walcheren, in the proportion th;
medicine would have been administered had
been a sufficient qUantity there ?—I have
stated that I do not know of any time when
was that deficiency.
By whose orders are medical comforts adminsti
to the sick ?—The head of the medical deparnee
upon the spot.
I understood you to say, that if you had knot
destination of the troops to have been to the i.
Walcheren, you would have sent out more port
as well as bark ?—gash I might have recommen;
but I had no power of sending any port wine.
To whom must that recommendation hall
made ? —To the War-Office.
Of what does the Medical Board consist
three members.
. Who arc those members ?—The Physician Cl
the Surgeon General, and, the Inipector Genet,
Army Hospitals.
Did the Board ever meet on the subject
diseases of the army in Walcheren ? Never ui
subject of diseases.
Were they ever ordered to meet on that stile
They were. ordered to meet on the subject of
plies of Staff.
When were they so ordered to meet bell
was in the month of June.
I have understood from you, that you did not
what was the destination of the Army ; I •
whether subsequent to the sailing of the Exi
and when the disease of the Army had brol
any order was given from any of the departments
State to the Medical Board, to meet on that
--Orders were given subsequently to the breal
of the disease in Walcheren, for the Medical
meet.
What was the date of that order ?—I do ni
I.ct exactly the date of that order, but it is very,
given to the Committee. •
Did they meet in consequence' of that order
They did not.
How came the meeting not to take place ii
Inence of the order?—The Physician Genet,
Surgeon General did meet.
- How tame the Inspector of Hospitals not
there ?—He did not give his reasons, but he
co-operate with the two upon that occasion.
• At what time was the meeting of the Plitt's,-
General and the Surgeon General ? Immediate!)
upon the receipt of the order.
Is the order in existence ?—lt is.
What was the nature of the order?--To provide
the reception of the sick from Walcheren.
Did the Surgeon General and the Physician
ral make any report ?---They answered the
was addressed to the three.
To whom was that answer addressed ?-:-Tt
cretary at War. •
Are not the sick of the whole of the army
to be under the care of the Medical Board
are; either conjointly or separately.
What is the distribution among the three
•4 the Board.?--The duty of the Physician General
to provide Physicians tor the Army, and to
Board whenever ordered ; the duty of the
General is to provide Surgeons, consult
Heads of Departments upon foreign service,
ere occasion of the sick from Walcheren, to
superintendence and charge thereof ; the Ins,
Hospitals ha, the charge and superintendence
regimental hospitals, and provides all (aspect
The Guards, you say, do not come tne
Medical Board'?---Certainly.
To whom do the Surgeons' of the rep
the Guards report apprehend to their Comma
ing Officers. .
Who provides medicines for the Guards ?.
spector General of Hospitals.
You have nothing at all to do with the
medical comforts, or medicines, or Mates,
other of the Medical Staff for the Guards ?.
Guards none.
Upon the landing of the troops in Englattd
Walcheren, did they immediately cease to
your care ?--Upon the landing of the troops
Walcheren they immediately came under
in consequence of such order as has been stated.
Are they still under your care ?---Thi
so still.
Upon the arrival of ate lick from V
Guards and regiments of the line, were
rated, and under what care were the Gi
uporrtheir arrival sin England if so separated
they could be conveniently separated, the:
commodated in hospitals with troops of the
Do you know what is now the state of .
ments of the line which returned from Walcheree
to the disease they contracted in the Island
cheren ?—Generally improving.
Are there many still sick, and have any .
lately who were not so before, and are there
lapses ?—There are not many now sick,
not many fallen sick lately, but there were
many relapses.
Is there a considerable or any mortality
,among the troops, in consequenceof the
tracted at Walcheren ?—Very little.
•• Do you know that in the distribution of
which did arrive at Walcheren, th, re was

Under their own respective stirs
To whom do those Surgeor
hend to their Commanding Off
certain they do not report to the
Is the Committee to understa
are under an exclusive Staff, ani
Medical Staff ? —Yes.
State to the Committee what
it with respect to the medical
army ; from what department ti
ceives its orders ?—From the W:
roes the War Office receive
titan from the Commander in (
the extent of force to be provides
State to the Committee whet
in the discretion of the Medical
ture and extent of the arrangem
number of men, they are directe,
rests with the Medical Board t
the 'supplies when they are order
for a certain number of men.
When were you first acquain
Con of the army was to W
Scheldt ?—Not until I received
spector of Hospitals then in the
State the dates of those letter
had was dated August the Bth,
ed the 12th.
Was it not a matter of notol
as the 28th of July, that the ex
the Scheldt ?—I had no reason
documents that I had, and I
date of the 28th of July ; it mil
Do you recollect that officia
ceived in this country, of the al
in the Scheldt, as early as the
cannot say otherwise ; I have r
Have you a recollection whet
t) be unhealthy ?—The date of
effect, wais the 19th of August.
When teas that letter receive
tember.
Have you that letter now it
not ; I can mention the abseral
State the substance of it ?—'
letter was, I perceive, only sor
but the letter dated the 20t1
Staff, videlicet ; two physic
. one deputy inspector, one depot
hospital mates, instead of to
before.
Did the letter state the amo
army at that time ?—.I believe
is easily procured.
Do not you recollect that t
army, previous to the '2oth of
healthy, particularly so ?—lt
generally healthy, and as a pr
sick sent over, or very few w
had arrived before.
If you had thought that ai
rangements in addition to thos
ed before the sailing of the ex;

rmter. •
fledical
tons of
teless it tr
le term
barley, g
number
r
nee. lid
ieCom. it C
slattd of t
tundret s o
lot mor
—I ve
;It 1 hal el)
shortly o
:vas four
tof fifty ,ec
third of ig
as not a 1
itt sick ia er
that th.it 'll
ad then,
already ,u 1
Len the:,;
ninstered nc
partineur
11:
mown the k
island .111
port wine ,t,
Intended, en
e.
lave Inca I
sist ?-0f r
I
General,
kneral of
a;
ct of the st
upon the I
abject ?
,f the sq. c
believe it ic
not know
I now ask
xpeditton,
oken out,
lmcnts of
subj,'.ct?
caking out
.1 Board to
not recol-
very
order
in cone.
neral alid
not to be
le did n:..t
•
Physician
unediately
f
provide fax
clan Gene- 't
letter ; >Eti
To the Se-
-1
y supposed
rd
e Members
General is t
to meet the
te Surgeon
It with the 1
e, and upon
to take the
inspector of
once of ail
pec tors.
under the
ginienti of
Com/nark
;
e providing
tes, or an/
the
to
ornti
a:bis enderdjy froth
rfrom
e :
•
hey =mita
Walcherer,
e they sePA'
Guards put
ted ?—Until
ley were ac•
he line.
4' the ger
ralcheren, as
tad of 0.
:eirter et
rfahea many
ei
I at:
y fallen
:0:k;
dibease c,.
of medicin,
As ail di