§ MR. A. O'CONNORI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to his statement on Thursday last, that fever does 1489 not exist in Ranafast, and that, though an outbreak of scarlatina had occurred in the Dungloe Dispensary District, it was practically over on the 25th March, whether he is aware that the dispensary doctor did attend 11 cases of fever in Ranafast on the 21st instant, eight of them being scarlet fever cases; and that two brothers from a neighbouring townland, who died suddenly of scarlatina, were buried on the 21st instant; whether, seeing that his previous information was incorrect, he will cause further inquiry to be made through fresh channels; and whether he requires to see the doctor's certificates in confirmation of the above statements?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURMy reply of the 16th inst. referred to in this question was in accordance with a Report dated 13th inst., and correctly represented the facts at that time. The later cases of scarlatina, which were 10 in number, exclusive of the two deaths on the 19th, were visited by the dispensary doctor on the 21st inst. for the first time. In addition to these, he found three cases of fever of a mild type, believed to be influenza. It is also understood there is one case of some months' standing, which has developed into typhoid fever. There appears to be no ground to suggest that these cases of illness were in any way connected with distress.
§ MR. A. O'CONNORWill the right hon. Gentleman cause further inquiry to be made as to the allegation that the official sent down instead of visiting 11 houses to which his attention had been specially drawn confined his visit to two of them which were convenient to the high road?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe information which I have given was derived from the dispensary doctor.
§ Dr. TANNERArising out of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, are we to understand that the dispensary doctor has asserted that a case of scarlatina absolutely developed into typhoid fever?.
§ MR A. J. BALFOURThe hon. Member must only understand what I said.
MR. MAC NEILL (Donegal, S.)Does the dispensary doctor say that these cases of typhoid fever are unconnected with the distress which exists in the locality?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not profess to be a medical expert; but I have 1490 always understood that scarlatina and typhoid, or any other kind of fever, were altogether independent of distress.