HC Deb 09 February 1891 vol 350 cc198-9
SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Dublin, Co., S.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Medical Officer of the institutions of the Presidency of Dominica Colony of the Leeward Islands, has been, removed from his usual professional duties, and constituted Imperial Commissioner, to report on the disease called "yaws" throughout the West Indies; and, if so, out of what fund, Imperial or Colonial, are his expenses to be paid; and if from Colonial funds, has the expense been created in deference to any demand for any such investigation from either the Medical Faculty or people of any West Indian community, and if so, from which; and if he is aware that a Resolution, affirming the necessity of such a Commission, and charging the expense connected with it upon the local revenue, was rejected by the practically unanimous vote of the Federal Council of the Leeward Islands in February, 1890?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. de WORMS, Liverpool, East Toxteth)

The Medical Officer of the Public Institutions in Dominica has been instructed to inquire into and report on the progress and treatment of the disease of yaws in the Leeward and Windward Islands. During his mission he will be relieved of the duties of his office. The expenses of the inquiry will be paid out of the funds of the several Islands in which it will be held. The inquiry has not been in tituted in deference to any demand of the Medical Faculty or people of any of the West Indian Colonies. Notice was given in February, 1890, in the Federal Council of the Leeward Islands of a Resolution in favour of providing for a portion of the cost of such an inquiry, but the Resolution was withdrawn.