The D.M.S. had sent round a note to all A.D.M.S.'s reminding them that all officers and men were to be inoculated against typhoid fever. So the A.D.M.S. of the Scottish Division ordered the different units to send in a nominal roll of all those who had not been inoculated. Most of the negligent confessed their sin; many of them were believers, and those who were not, respected the customs of their times and piously submitted to the ceremony.
Only the 113th Battery, R.F.A., sent in the following roll:
| Names. | Condition. | Reason given for exemption. |
|---|---|---|
| Capt. Cockell Lieut. Little Lieut. M'Cracken |
Not yet inoculated. Refuse inoculation. | Do not believe in the efficacy of the operation. |
The A.D.M.S. in high dudgeon complained to the Staff and requested the temporal powers to deliver the heretics over to the lancet. The temporal powers, while paying due reverence to medical infallibility, requested the A.D.M.S. to attempt a conversion.
The 113th Battery was famous for its courage and its daring deeds. Dr. O'Grady was entrusted with the mission of visiting Captain Cockell and bringing that erring soul back to the fold.
The gunners gave the doctor a warm welcome. Their dug-out was comfortable, their arm-chairs, made by the men out of the branches of fir-trees, were luxuriously low and deep. O'Grady dropped into one, and looked about him anxiously.
"It is a remarkable fact," he said, "that thirst and hunger should make themselves felt by sensations in the mouth and stomach only, and not in the rest of the body. At this very moment, when
all my organs are quite dry for lack of decent whisky, I am only warned by the mucous membrane in my mouth——"
"Orderly! The whisky! Quick!" shouted Captain Cockell.
Whereupon the doctor, his mind set at rest, was able to explain the object of his mission.