nd field hospitals of
two army corps and a cavalry division, with seven stationary and three
general hospitals on the lines of communication. This only allowed for
under 3 per cent. of the troops having beds in general and stationary
hospitals. Without withdrawing officers from the colonies,[34] the aid
of 99 civil surgeons would be required. These gentlemen were to be
selected when their services were needed, but as there was no
registered list, no claim on the service of anyone could be exacted.
When the field army was provided for, the home hospitals were entirely
denuded of personnel. The work was carried on by retired officers and
civil surgeons. The establishment of non-commissioned officers and men
was designed only for peace purposes, and beyond the reserve there was
no estimate for additions in case of war. A state of war was to be met
by civilian assistance, increased employment of women nurses, and
active recruiting. An increase of establishment which had been
proposed for the estimates of 1893-4 and successive years had
gradually obtained complete sanction by 1898.[35] The increase of the
army as a whole and the known weakness in South Africa caused demands
for yet larger numbers in the estimates of 1899-1900. The Army Board
were not disposed to recommend more than a portion of these
additions.[36] The difficulty of obtaining sanction for expenditure on
measures of greater urgency required that that which was considered of
less importance should be dispensed with, so the hospital orderly had
to be rejected in favour of the soldier to fill the ranks. To provide
the general and stationary hospitals that accompanied the First Army
Corps with complete personnel, it became necessary to denude the
bearer companies and field hospitals of the Second Army Corps. It is
not surprising, therefore, that "war having been declared, and
practically the whole available personnel having been swept off to
South Africa with the first demands, it became necessary to seek for
other means of supply."[37] Hospital equipment was dealt with by the
Director-General of Ordnance, but with surgical and medical stores the
Army Medical Department was itself concerned. Funds to replace the
old-fashioned instruments then in use were asked for in 1896, and
between that date and the outbreak of war great improvements had been
made. The change, however, had not been universally completed, and on
the outbreak of war a few instruments of comparati