HC Deb 23 July 1883 vol 282 cc161-3
MR. ONSLOW

asked whether there was any truth in the report that a British soldier had died of cholera near Cairo; and what steps the Government were taking to send out more doctors to Egypt?

LORD EUSTACE CECIL

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the alarming accounts in The Times as to the ignorance, apathy, neglect of sanitary precautions, and hostility of the Egyptian authorities are correct; whether the administrative anarchy reported from the interior is beyond credence; and, what further steps the Foreign Office are taking to force the Egyptian Government to take more active steps in putting a stop to a state of things at once dangerous and discreditable?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

With regard to the Question of the noble Lord, I answered a similar one put by another noble Lord (Lord Henry Lennox) on Friday. I informed the noble Lord that a telegram was sent stating the painful impression which had been produced in this country by accounts alluded to by the noble Lord. I also added that Sir Edward Malet had received, from the time the cholera broke out, instructions to lose no opportunity in pressing upon the Egyptian Government the necessity of taking proper precautions, especially proper sanitary precautions. I have now to state that Sir Edward Malet, in consequence of the gravity of the condition of affairs, especially in Cairo, has requested the Egyptian Ministers at Cairo to associate with the Board of Health General Stephenson, Sir Evelyn Wood, and Baker Pasha, to form together a Commission, with full power to order and execute measures to be taken against cholera. Twelve English medical officers are being selected for service in Egypt, and will proceed this week to Cairo. The Viceroy of India has also been asked to despatch, if the Egyptian Government require them, 40 experienced Mohammedan hospital assistants for general cholera duty. I may add that the deaths from cholera reported to have taken place at Cairo during the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. yesterday amount to 381.

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I have received a telegram, dated the 23rd instant, from the General Officer Commanding at Cairo, in which he states— Black Watch moved to camp near Suez 20th. One fatal case cholera 18 hours after arrival; a second case just reported doing well. General health of troops as last telegram. I may state that an additional number of doctors have been sent out, and that more are under orders to go.

MR. ONSLOW

wished to know whether all the doctors who had been, and were going to be, sent to Egypt had practical experience of cholera in the East?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

The advice of Sir Joseph Fayrer has been taken in these appointments. No appoimement has been made without his approval. Sir Joseph Fayrer has had the very greatest Indian experience; and I believe I am right in saying that nearly all the doctors engaged have had not only Indian experience, but extensive Indian experience.