§ LORD J. MANNERSwished to ask whether it were the intention of the Colonial Department to take any steps towards checking the prevalence of fever and other contagious diseases in emigrant ships? If it were so, he begged to submit to the hon. Gentleman the great desirableness of providing medical men for every emigrant ship that left our shores. He had recently an opportunity of having a communication on this subject from a lady whose name could not be mentioned without respect—he meant Mrs. Morley, in which she made various suggestions how the important object of preventing the spread of disease in emigrant ships might be gained; and that communication he had brought under the notice of the hon. Gentleman. What he wished now to ask was, if Government had taken this subject into consideration, and whether the hon. Gentleman could hold out any hope of effectual measures being taken for the future, so that emigrants 277 leaving this country should not be subjected to those pestilential diseases that had carried away so many of our unfortunate fellow-subjects.
§ MR. HAWEScould assure the noble Lord that Her Majesty's Government attached great importance to the subject that he had just brought under the notice of the House, and he could add that it had not been left unconsidered. With reference to the circumstances to which the noble Lord referred, of people going on voyages in a state of disease—a matter to which the respected lady he had mentioned had directed her attention—he must say that this year a very large amount of emigration had taken place, and that the prevalence of disease had very materially added to the mortality on board the emigrant ships. Additional means had been taken by the local Government of Canada to meet the evils arising from this state of matters, and they had exerted themselves in the most excellent and praiseworthy manner to mitigate the sufferings of those who had arrived in that colony. So far, indeed, as he knew, the Government of Canada had taken every means in their power to meet the calamity; but with regard to the Government at home sending surgeons, he was afraid it would be found impracticable. He might fairly assume that 700 emigrant ships had left the ports of this country and of Ireland; and where were surgeons to be found for all these ships? Her Majesty's Government had believed this to be the real state of the case; but in order to be sure that they had raised up no visionary difficulty, inquiries were made of the highest medical authorities, to ascertain if a sufficient number of competent medical persons could be got, and he could state on that authority that it would be almost impossible to find medical men for each of those ships—a number to the extent of nearly 700. Perhaps it might be necessary to consolidate the various Acts relating to the conveyance of passengers; and he had intended to bring a comprehensive measure for this subject under the consideration of the House, but had no prospect of doing so with success during the present Session. He might say, however, that betwixt this period and the next Session of Parliament he would make anxious inquiries into the subject, to ascertain whether the practical difficulties experienced at the present moment could not be got over, and some efficient system established to prevent the evil complained of.
§ LORD G. BENTINCKwould ask the hon. Gentleman whether he did not think it was possible that, instead of 600 surgeons, 6,000 could be got for this purpose? He would also ask whether the law, as it now stood, with regard to surgeons, did not exclude those countries to which the great mass of emigrants went, namely, the Canadas and the United States? Whether, by some oversight, the general Act was made to bear, that, unless a voyage was for more than twelve weeks, no medical officer was required to go with the ship; and that the Act required that if there were more than a hundred persons on board a ship, it should be supplied with a medical man? He would also ask the hon. Gentleman if, even at this period of the Session, he could not introduce a short measure to remedy this defect?
§ MR. HAWESthought it would be hardly expedient to introduce any measure during the present Session. He might state, that the ordinary mortality in emigrant ships from Liverpool to the North American provinces was one-half per cent. The mortality generally took place on board the ships after they had sailed. If it took place before they loft, then steps would be taken to detain those who were ill, and the vessel would not be allowed to go to sea.
§ MR. WAKLEYwas glad the attention of the Government had been called to this subject: but he was surprised to hear the hon. Gentleman say that there was difficulty in obtaining 600 or 700 surgeons. If they were adequately paid for in the service, there would be no difficulty in getting the number that was required.