DR. CAMERONasked the Lord Advocate, Whether his attention has been called to the reported outbreak of typhus fever in the Island of Skye; if he can state how many cases of the disease have occurred, and whether it is true that the medical officer of the district has been attacked; and, what steps the Local Sanitary Authority or the Board of Supervision has taken to deal with the outbreak?
THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)Sir, attention has been drawn to the outbreak of typhus fever in Skye. A Report was received from the Board of Supervision, and the village attacked by fever was also visited by the Royal Commission which is now sitting in the Highlands. The number of cases has been 25, in about five months, of which three have been fatal. I regret to say that the medical officer, Dr. Mackenzie, was attacked with fever in the zealous discharge of his duty, and now lies dangerously ill. The earliest cases were not recognized by the sufferers to be cases of fever, and were not reported to the authorities. But the local authority have been active; and in obtaining trained nurses, first from Inverness, and then from Edinburgh, and in securing the services of another medical officer, have, I think, done all in their power.
DR. CAMERONWould the right hon. and learned Gentleman answer that part of my Question, whether anything has been done in the way of securing isolation?
THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)Sir, it is a small village, consisting of small huts, I may say, and I believe there has not been any opportunity of isolating the patients. There is a power, under the Public Health Act, to provide hospitals; but that could not be done in such a place; and, as the outbreak seems to have been unexpected, 467 I cannot say that the local authority is blameable for not providing hospital accommodation before this time.