HC Deb 15 April 1887 vol 313 cc991-2
Dr. CAMERON (Glasgow, College)

asked the Lord Advocate, Whether it is true, as stated in The Scotsman of the 30th ultimo, that an epidemic of malignant fever has broken out in Glen, island of Pabbay, parish of Barra, and that in many of the houses several inmates have been struck down; whether it is true, as stated, that Allan M'Intyre having died of fever in a bed occupied by himself and two sick children, the latter were left lying 17 hours beside the corpse, because the only other inmate of the house, a boy recovering from the disease, was too weak to move them; whether it is true, as stated, that in another case specified, a man, his wife, father-in-law, and sister-in-law, were all lying ill, with no one to attend them but a child of five or six years; whether any medical attendance, or means of isolation, has been provided by the Local Sanitary Authority; and, what is the Sanitary Authority in the district?

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR, SCOTLAND (Mr. J. P. B. ROBERTSON) (Bute)

(who replied) said: From the inquiry which has been made into this matter, it appears that there have been about 10 cases of fever in the parish of Barra, and in two instances, at least, more than one member of a family has been attacked. The number of houses in which it has broken out is not precisely stated. The information does not bear out the statements in the second paragraph of the Question. The children had a separate bed in the house, for which the Inspector of Poor supplied clothing when the fever began. The statements in the third paragraph of the Question are correct. On the 5th of March, in consequence of a Report from the Procurator Fiscal and police, the Board of Supervision called on the Local Authority to give immediate attention to the matter, and the Board again pressed the matter on their attention on the 10th of March, the 18th of March, and the 25th of March, in consequence of further Reports of new cases. All the cases are being attended to, both medically and otherwise, and means taken to prevent the spread of the disease. The Parochial Board of the parish is the Sanitary Authority.