HC Deb 12 July 1883 vol 281 cc1215-7
SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOT

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the statement in the "Times" of Tuesday the 10th is true, that the slaughter houses from which all meat is supplied to Alexandria and to the troops are in a most filthy state without proper means of flushing or cleansing; acres of ground around them are full of unburied and half buried débris, entrails, and carcases, exhaling a most offensive odour; the establishment is within a short distance of Ramleh, and the Sanitary Sub-Commission, who have made a minute inspection, states that it constitutes a source of danger to the troops; and, if this statement is correct, what steps are being taken for the protection of the health of the troops as well as of the town of Alexandria, the 46th Regiment having now 116 sick out of 803 men at Ramleh?

LORD EUSTACE CECIL

wished to ask the noble Lord, before he answered that Question, what steps had been taken for the protection of the troops at Cairo; and, whether a Commission had been appointed to inquire into the state of the slaughter-houses and sewers in that town?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I have received two telegrams from the General Officer commanding in Egypt. The first is as follows:— Percentage of sick at Alexandria and Ramleh is seven, of which one-fifth are enteric and other febrile cases, chiefly among Cornwall Regiment; venereal, one-third of sick; no sickness to cause alarm; much fever must always be expected at Alexandria at this season. The second telegram adds— Slaughter-house two miles to leeward of Ramleh has nothing to do with sickness of Cornwall Regiment. I have also consulted Major General Harman, who recently commanded the troops at Alexandria. That officer reports— These slaughter-houses are nearer to Alexandria than to the barracks at Ramleh. The smell from them is very offensive, mainly owing to the hides and horns of slaughtered animals being kept for dressing. It is an exaggeration to state that acres of ground around them are full of unburied and half-buried débris; although it is a fact that the surroundings are not kept as clean as they ought to be. I do not myself think that any danger need be feared in Ramleh from the slaughter-houses. As to the Question of the noble Lord, I stated some days ago what communications had passed between the War Office and the General Officer Commanding in. Egypt, and I said that generally the military authorities are prepared to deal with any outbreak of cholera that might appear among the troops. I think that any Question relating to the sanitary state of Cairo ought to be addressed to the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOT

asked whether any steps were being taken to prevent the nuisance and danger that arose from these slaughter-houses, which were admitted to be in a very unsatisfactory state?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I understand the Report of the Commanding Officer at Alexandria to be, that there is no danger to the health of the troops from the slaughter-houses. No doubt, as their attention has been called to the matter, the military authorities will take any steps in their power to abate the nuisance.