§ MR. GODDARDasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention has been yet directed to the unsatisfactory hygienic state of Gibraltar, and more especially to the prevalence of a severe type of typhoid, or what is termed rock fever, in the regimental quarters during the past summer; and, whether any measures have been or are about to be taken for the amelioration of the sanitary condition of the for-trees?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHSir, I believe that there was an unusual number of attacks of fever among the officers quartered at Gibraltar during the past summer; but I am informed that the cases were, with one exception, of a remittent and not of a typhoid character, and that the principal medical officer of the garrison reported that the fever was in no way to be traced to local sanitary defects, but was of climatic origin, and attributable in a great measure to a late and prolonged rainfall. I believe the 1840 sanitary condition of Gibraltar is, on the whole, satisfactory. Much has been done to improve it within the past 10 years. The subject has recently been under my notice, and I trust further improvements will shortly be made.