§ MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board, Whether, in view of the recent severe outbreak of small pox in the parish of Wooburn, Bucks, due to the rags used in paper making at the Wooburn Mills, he will take steps to secure the disinfecting of all rags so used to prevent the possibility of contagion?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. BORLASE) (Cornwall, St. Austell)The Board have learnt, with much regret, of the outbreak of small-pox at Wooburn. They have no authority under which they can secure the disinfection of rags used in paper-making so as to prevent contagion. They have, however, with a view to assisting the Local Authorities and those concerned in paper-making, collected and disseminated the fullest information respecting the circumstances of disease-production by means of rags, and the best means of disinfecting efficiently without injury to the rags. They 1286 have also enjoined the adoption of vaccination and revaccination of persons engaged in paper-making and the rag trade as the most available means of saving individuals from the infection of small-pox.