§ MR. NORRIS (Tower Hamlets, Lime-house)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, since the death of Lieutenant Herbert Jarrett, of the Buffs, in December last, from typhoid fever, said to have been contracted at his quarters in the barracks at Dover, any official inspection of those barracks has been made; and, if so, with what result; 889 whether any measures have been taken, or are being taken, to remedy the insanitary condition of certain quarters in these and other barracks from which complaints have been received; and, if he will state who is responsible for the general supervision of such matters of vital importance to the health of our officers and men?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)The barracks at Dover have, since Lieutenant Jarrett's death, been most carefully inspected by the principal medical officer and the Commanding Royal Engineer, who have failed to discover any insanitary condition which would account for that sad event. The drains were in perfect order. The water has been analyzed, and found quite fit for human consumption. Even the milk used at the mess was tested without result. There was a little dampness found in the officers' quarters, which is now being remedied; but it was quite insufficient to account for an outbreak of typhoid fever. The general responsibility for sanitary matters rests with the principal medical officers of districts acting under the General Officers commanding. Immediate steps are always taken to remedy such defects as are brought to light.
In reply to a further Question by Mr. NORRIS,
§ MR. E. STANHOPEsaid, that he was not aware whether similar complaints had been received by the War Office with regard to the insanitary condition of the barracks at Portsmouth and at Dublin.