§ MR. O'DONNELLasked the Under Secretary of State for India, If complaints have been made by European Governments of the laxity of the supervision of cholera by the Indian Authorities; whether cholera of a severe type has been raging recently at Bombay and Calcutta; whether 578 deaths from cholera took place in Calcutta during the four weeks ending the 10th of May last; and, whether a Military transport vessel was allowed lately to leave Bombay for Europe via the Suez Canal, although three cases of cholera had declared themselves on board the ship while still in Bombay Harbour, one of the patients dying of the disease and being buried at Bombay?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSI am not aware that any complaints have been made by European Governments as to the laxity of supervision of cholera by the Indian authorities. There has been a good deal of cholera, both at Calcutta and Bombay, since the beginning of the year. The Calcutta deaths are correctly stated by the hon. Member. During March they, were 435; during April they rose to 811; but during May and the first week of June they fell to 382. From the official Report of the proceedings of Her Majesty's ship Crocodile communicated to the India Office by the Admiralty it is clear that there was no outbreak of cholera on board the troopship while still in Bombay Harbour, and that there was no case among the crew or troops for some days after she had sailed.
§ MR. O'DONNELLasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If it is true that Asiatic cholera has broken out at Toulon?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICENo information has been received with respect to this alleged outbreak of cholera; but a Report has been called for by telegraph, and intelligence is expected in the course of the day.
§ MR. O'DONNELLasked the Secretary of State for War, If he has asked for any information as to the outbreak of cholera on board the troopship Crocodile, while still in Bombay Harbour, and the landing of three cholera patients from the vessel while at Bombay, one, a sergeant, dying of the disease; if he can state what quarantine, if any, was imposed upon the troopship Crocodile subsequent to the discovery of cholera on board, and previous to her being allowed to proceed to Europe viâ the Suez Canal; and, whether any subsequent cases occurred during the voyage to Europe?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONA sergeant-major of the 2nd Norfolk Regiment died in Bombay Harbour of violent diarrhæa. The man had neglected to seek medical aid, and his case was much aggravated by the fact that he had been drinking freely. The medical officer in charge reported the case to the Surgeon General at Bombay, who agreed that the case was one of diarrhæa, and not of cholera. Nevertheless, the same precautions had been taken as if the case had been cholera; the bedding, &c., being destroyed, and the hospital ward fumigated and disinfected. No quarantine, therefore, was imposed, and the ship left Bombay on the 3rd of April. Between the 6th of April and the ship's arrival at Malta eight cases of cholera occurred, and six of them terminated fatally. The third case having occurred after the Crocodile entered the Suez Canal, she coaled in quarantine at Port Said. The Governor of Malta refused to allow the women and children to land in quarantine at Malta, as recommended by the medical officer in charge of the troops. No case occurred after leaving Malta.
§ MR. O'DONNELLasked whether it was not the case that two men of the family of the man who had died in Bombay Harbour were attacked with choleraic symptoms, and were removed from 1239 the Crocodile to the shore at Bombay, but recovered?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI have not heard of that. We have received voluminous Reports on this subject, and I do not believe that any case of that kind occurred.
§ MR. O'DONNELLsaid, he would ask the Question again, and would supply the noble Marquess with the newspaper reports to the effect which he had stated.