§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he can state what steps have been taken in Egypt for preventing the spread of cholera; and, whether Her Majesty's Government have given or 789 offered to the Government of Egypt any, and, if so, what, assistance to further this object?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICESir, I propose to give to the House a short summary of the information which has reached Her Majesty's Government from Sir Edward Malet and Consul Cookson regarding the measures taken for preventing the spread of cholera in Egypt. These measures are under the control of the Central Government in Cairo. Sir Edward Malet states that the Sanitary Board at Cairo is composed of Native and foreign doctors, among whom is Dr. Grant, the Medical Adviser of Her Majesty's Consular Court. They have, from the beginning of the outbreak, sat every evening, in conjunction with the Minister of the Interior and General Baker; and Sir Edward Malet adds that doctors, medicines, and food have been supplied to the infected places; and he expresses the opinion that the Government have done all in their power to stamp out the disease. At Alexandria, Consul Cookson states that a Commission has been working hard in inspecting nuisances and suggesting sanitary measures; and he trusts that good results will ensue from the appointment of sub-committees, to whom the Government have left, on Mr. Cook-son's representation, great latitude of action. An independent British Committee has, moreover, been formed to visit the houses of British and Maltese residents at Alexandria. The infected houses have been isolated by cordons of police. With regard to the steps taken by Her Majesty's Government, I may state that a Departmental Committee has been appointed by my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board on cholera precautions generally; and a competent medical authority connected with the India Office is about to be despatched to Egypt under the direction of the Board. The Egyptian Government has been informed of the desire of Her Majesty's Government to afford them every assistance in the difficult task they have to perform.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFMay I ask when this Committee was formed by the President of the Local Government Board?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEI think Questions relating to this Com- 790 mittee had better be addressed to the President of the Local Government Board.
§ MR. ONSLOWWill the noble Lord say whether this competent medical authority has had any experience of choleraic epidemic?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEAt the proper time, either I or my right hon. Friend will be perfectly ready to state the name of this gentleman to the House, and I feel perfectly certain that it will meet with general approval.
§ MR. ONSLOWMight I suggest, as we have a number of troops there, whether it would not be advisable to telegraph for medical officers from India, who have had practical and great experience in the treatment of cholera?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEQuestions as to the Army Medical Department would be more properly addressed to my noble Friend the Secretary of State for War; but I may state at once that every precaution is being taken, and I feel certain that my hon. Friend will see that both with regard to the English and Native troops Her Majesty's Government are most anxious to do everything to prevent disease.
§ MR. O'DONNELLWill the noble Lord inquire into the alleged isolation of the infected districts? Will he see whether it is true, as stated in the German Press, that Damietta has lost by migration more than half of its population, which have escaped on all sides through the cordon and gone by boats over the lakes; that, although the Sanitary Commission are sitting, they have neither soldiers nor police nor any trustworthy representatives to maintain a cordon effectively; and that, to all intents and purposes, no means exist for limiting the spread of the disease at present existing?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICENo, Sir; I cannot give accurate or detailed information on these various points; but, as far as I have read the papers, it would appear that a very different complaint has been made—namely, that the cholera cordon has been kept up with such strictness that very painful scenes have been the result. As I am touching upon this subject, I may; perhaps, touch upon its more pleasant side—namely, that during the last few days there has certainly been a diminution of deaths in the very district 791 to which the hon. Member has alluded. In the Damietta district, on the 1st of July, there were 141 deaths; on the 2nd, 130; on the 3rd, 112; on the 4th, 111; on the 5th, 109; on the 6th, 107; on the 7th, 92; and on the 8th, 88. These figures show that, at all events, there has been a gradual diminution in the number of deaths in that district. At Mansurah there was also a diminution, though not so marked. On the 5th of July, the deaths there were 68; on the 6th, 39; on the 7th, 45; and on the 8th, 48; so that, on the whole, that shows a certain diminution as compared with the previous dates. There was a very slight increase in three other places; but in Menzaleh, where there were 11 cases on the 7th, the Return on the 8th gives no new cases at all.
§ MR. O'DONNELLasked whether the diminution in the number of deaths in Damietta was not due to the fact that many thousands of persons had taken refuge in the surrounding villages; and whether inquiry would be made as to the number of unregistered deaths which were now occurring everywhere over a large space of country in small villages?
§ [No reply was given.]