Page images
PDF
EPUB

work to which he had devoted the last five years of his medical life, and was given a temporary commission in the R.A.M.C. on the strength of his old repute as a surgeon. In the cares of his new work he had almost forgotten his research hobby until he was reminded of it by the advent of Commandant von temper seemed to have become bitterer on kindness, and who, after a fortnight, had won by his little ways a reputation throughout the British Tommies' wards of the hospital, in which admiration was almost stronger than resentment.

-, whose

"Ain' he a real 'Un?" gasped one little Cockney in L. (Tommies') ward. "A real strike-me-pink 'Un!" This verdict, when one of the numerous exploits of the Commandant was being discussed, represented soundly the British soldier's attitude to a mingling of wonder, derision, and admiration.

von

Dr. Smith's hobby had been research into physical phenomena affecting or arising from the exercise of the moral faculties. He had been enticed into that strange bypath owing to the chance suggestion of a phrase: "The milk of human kindness." Reading that phrase one day it had recurred to him time after time for some weeks. He had wondered to himself if it were purely

metaphorical.

The

"Wouldn't be surprised," he thought, "if there were really such a thing, some physical change that comes to the human body with the growth of kindness and justice and mercy and so on. phrenologists may be guessing at a truth with their 'bump of benevolence.' Anyhow, no harm to potter about a bit and

[merged small][ocr errors]

The doctor had private means, and so it was easy to give up time and money to a minute investigation of the possibility of there being physical changes in the human brain to correspond with the increase of the humane virtues. Soundly enough, he carried on his research along parallel lines of induction, taking every possible opportunity to dissect the brains of:

(1) Violent criminals, wife-beaters, perverts, etc. (2) Benevolent and charitable people.

A surgeon who is known to be pursuing a useful and unselfish work of research is given every possible help by the medical profession generally, and, in one way and another, Dr. Smith had plenty of opportunities of examining brains; but he found it necessary at an early stage to make the reservation that he did not want to have forwarded to him under Category 2 the brains of professional philanthropists. When the war broke out Dr. Smith was morally certain, not only that he had discovered a gland, existing near the pineal gland, which was the seat of the benevolent emotions, but that he could separate from it an extract which (as

the thyroid gland extract stimulates the thyroid glands) would have the effect of increasing the humane impulses.

With the developments of the war Dr. Smith found his discovery receding more and more to the background of his thoughts. Sometimes he expressed to himself a whimsical regret that his investigation had not at its final stage branched off in an opposite direction, and indicated a serum that would lessen the humane impulses. He felt that, to England, it would have been more useful. Now, with the advent of Commandant von whose behaviour was a quaint mingling of the naughtiness of a child, the rage of a hyena, and the nastiness of a monkey, Dr. Smith's thoughts went back to his laboratory and certain little sealed tubes which he had labelled "the virus of humanity." He was tempted to try the effect of "the virus of humanity on this strange creature in human form, who raged and fretted at every kindness. First, he consulted Colonel R.A.M.C.

[ocr errors]

"I don't think it advisable at all," said the Colonel.

But it can have no evil effect."

"Have you explained it to him and asked his leave?"

[ocr errors]

'No, and honestly I do not think that he would give leave."

"Well, don't do it!"

"But if it succeeds it will make him a better, a happier man.' "That isn't the question. He might not want to be a better or a happier man. If you change him you may be ruining all his chances of professional advancement when he gets back to Bocheland.'

Nevertheless, the Colonel allowed himself to be persuaded after a particularly vivid exhibition of beastliness on the part of Commandant von

"Look here, Smith," he said. "It looks as if we'll have to put that man in a strait-jacket. If you really think there is anything in your stuff, you can try it on your own responsibility." Dr. Smith said he would.

The experiment was made on the night of April 21. The injection of the serum did not awaken the Commandant. He slept more than usually soundly, and was not, indeed, noticed to be awake on Sunday morning until the orderly reported that "the von was muttering. He had not roared for water nor growled for food, nor attempted any of his usual performances. A sister was summoned who understood German.

"Please, I am thirsty," was what Commandant von — was saying; gently and in German.

Sister brought him a lemon drink, and asked him if he would like to be washed now, and would she send the orderly? He

thanked her and went on: "I can English speak, if it is the more

convenient.

[ocr errors]

That was the first the hospital knew of its guest's knowledge of English.

Commandant von was very civil to the doctor, and indeed to every one that day, and in the evening, hearing singing from the chapel, asked if he might go to church, and was wheeled to the chapel. On Monday he asked to see the papers. Afterwards he seemed very sad and troubled. He ate little at lunch, and asked for books on the war.

The medical officer thought that English books on the war would hardly be soothing to his German patient, and explained that he had better not have them. The patient gently insisted. He read steadily on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. His general condition, the nurses' reports show, was good, except for some loss of appetite. He had no temperature, and the wound in the thigh-a shell splinter had severed a great artery was progressing favourably. On Wednesday night the patient complained a little of sleeplessness, and was given a mild sleeping draught.

On Thursday morning the tragic news went through the hospital that Commandant von had been found dead, having removed the bandages from his thigh and pulled open the artery. A note was pinned on to his pillow.

Dear doctor and nurses. I am sorry for the trouble. It is the only way to do it. I have been reading about the hospital ships and the other things. To live longer too ashamed I am.

After inquiry the nurse in charge of the case was absolved from all blame, it being clear that there had been no neglect on her part. But the position of Dr. Smith is still under discussion, and he is at present suspended from duty pending a decision. Medical and military opinion alike is deeply divided on the case.

One party argues that the injection of the humane serum into the Hun officer's veins was a remedial and beneficent measure; that its good results were subsequently apparent; and that the tragic end of the remorseful Hun was due, not to any fault of the treatment, but to the evil conduct of his countrymen.

The other party holds that the experiment was an altogether dangerous one, and should not have been attempted without a full authority from the subject. To attempt to put humane principles into a Hun, they argue, showed an utter disregard of the laws regarding chemical and other affinities, and the attempt was bound to end in a disaster of some sort.

The considered opinions of students of ethics who have neither medical nor military bias will be welcomed.

FRANK FOX

THE INTRIGUE AGAINST THE ADMIRALTY

READERS of the National Review will not be surprised to learn that the integrity of the Board of Admiralty is again being assailed by a political section. Their views were quite plainly expressed by Mr. Winston Churchill, who, writing in an English Sunday paper in June last and a month later in an American Sunday journal, discovered a new form of desecration of the Sabbath. It appears that these effusions were written before Mr. Churchill was again appointed Minister of the Crown, though the American version was published four days after his appointment, and was advertised as the work of the Minister of Munitions. In any case, Mr. Churchill was an ex-First Lord of the Admiralty; and there are still people who consider that an ex-Minister who publicly attacks the department with which he was associated, and who in so doing necessarily gives the impression that he speaks with a peculiar authority derived from particular knowledge, is violating the discretions of public life. The Government, however, were evidently of another opinion; for they made Mr. Churchill a Minister. The thing was supposed to be impossible; but it was done.

The reappearance of Mr. Churchill coincided with the departure of Sir Edward Carson from the Admiralty, the departure of the Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty, Sir Graham Greene, after thirty-six years' service, and his transference to the Ministry of Munitions. Then the Second Sea Lord went. At the same time two more civilians were brought into the Admiralty by the new First Lord, Sir Eric Geddes.

Mr. Archibald Hurd, writing in the Daily Telegraph early in August, definitely stated that Mr. Churchill had made "a concrete proposal" to the Government, which proposal "still held the field.". It would appear that Mr. Churchill's idea of the office of Minister of Munitions is that he should direct the naval policy of this country. What is the concrete proposal" which holds, or held, the field?

[ocr errors]

It is that all the Allied navies should be combined together; that certain ships should be selected for special service, and that the rest should continue to keep the sea. The special service

was not defined; but, as might have been expected, it was described as extremely hazardous, involving almost certain loss of all vessels employed in it. That loss was described by Mr. Churchill, in his best manner, as infinitely preferable to retaining the ships "practically unused." As it also might have been expected, Mr. Churchill said no word of the officers and men who were scheduled to be lost at the same time. No one can accuse Mr. Churchill of exaggerating the value of human life.

Such, briefly, is the "concrete proposal" which Mr. Hurd, a responsible writer, affirms to be under the serious consideration of the Government. Mr. Hurd's statements need no corroboration, they are only too likely to be true.

To the Sea Lords of the Admiralty, or any other body of professional seamen, such a project is of course mere insanity. Therefore it is not difficult to understand why certain politicians desire to remove Sir John Jellicoe, who, as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Admiralty War Staff, is presumably opposed to throwing away officers, men, and ships for nothing. Presumably, also, if the First Sea Lord were forced to resign on a question of war policy, the rest of the Naval Lords would resign with him. But the Government would prefer to avoid that contingency. Therefore if the end is desired, it must be compassed by other means. Changes may be made in the Board. (They have been made.) It may be put about in the newspapers that Sir John Jellicoe's health is suffering under the strain of the war. (That has been done.) There are always more ways than the one of inducing a man to resign.

It is of course the right of the Cabinet to make and to unmake the Board of Admiralty. Nor is that right in dispute.

The point is whether the Board is to be changed in order that Mr. Churchill's projects should be carried into execution.

It is an important question; because if the Government adopt them, they will not only cast away men and ships, but may lose the war.

Mr. Churchill's scheme is not all unreason. Fatal delusion as it is, there is fact at the bottom of it. The Government are not so foolish as to take pure fantasy into consideration.

The basis of fact is notorious. It is that the submarine campaign is partly nullifying the function of the Navy. That the action of the Navy has prevented the submarine from inflicting very much heavier losses is not mentioned; but it is a fact which should be set alongside the other fact. Taking the two together, it is evident that the submarine campaign is kept within certain limits by the Navy, which inflicts heavy losses upon enemy officers and vessels. Mr. Churchill omits this consideration altogether. He tacitly assumes that the German submarine has

« PreviousContinue »