§ MR. M. HEALY (Cork)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many prisoners in Tullamore Gaol are now suffering from typhoid fever; if any prisoners there are suffering from influenza; and, if so, how many; whether the prison doctor knew that the disease from which Mr. John Cullinane was suffering was typhoid fever, or did he share the mistake made by the medical member of the Prisons Board, and think it influenza; and whether any arrangements are being made to remove from Tullamore the prisoners who have so far escaped the fever?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThere are 11 prisoners at present suffering from typhoid fever in Tullamore Gaol. There are four prisoners also slightly ailing, and under observation. There is no case of influenza in the prison, but cases of this disease are known to exist in the town of Tullamore and neighbourhood. It was on the authority of the medical member of the Prisons Board alone that the disease was at first pronounced to be influenza. The medical officer of the prison, not joining in Dr. Woodhouse's opinion, treated Cullinane's case from the beginning as typhoid, which treatment was subsequently approved by his own medical attendant. Thirty-four of the prisoners whose sentences would expire within a month were released yesterday, but pending the result of an inquiry by sanitary experts, namely, Sir Charles Cameron and Mr. Kaye Parry, the Board are not prepared to recommend any further steps in this direction.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)When will the inquiry take place; and would it not be better on the whole to remove the prisoners from all risk of contamination?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe investigation has been going on for some days, and I fancy that it is near its termination.