§ MR. DALYasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether inquiries have been made into charges against the sanitary condition of Nazareth House, Hammersmith; and, if so, with what result?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEsaid, that he had ordered one of the Medical Inspectors of his Department to inquire into the subject, and an inquiry had accordingly taken place. He had also himself been over the premises of the Sisters of Nazareth House, Hammersmith. There were 175 children there, and about 130 old men and women. The attack of typhus was confined to the children and the Sisters attending on them, and had not reached the old people. There were 51 cases of typhus in all; but that extended over a long period—several months. The Medical Inspector's Report was not yet complete; but he had received from him an interim Report. As soon as the full Report was ready it should be laid before the House. If the hon. Member asked what was the character of the Report, he might at once state that it said that the rumour that the Sisters had disregarded cleanliness was quite unfounded. Further, it stated that the amount of space given to the children was ample and sufficient. The disease was brought in from without, and the Inspector was making further and full inquiries on that point. The spread of the disease was accounted for by the fact that it was in the house for a considerable time before the Sisters knew of it, as typhus was a disease which it was very difficult to recognize among children.