§ MR. MACDONA (Southwark, Rotherhithe)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that a virulent form of diphtheria is now devastating the small village of Great Tey, near Colchester, in Essex; that over 15 deaths have occurred there during the past few weeks; that the village is in a notoriously insanitary state, having an open drain into which all the village sewage runs; that no attempt at isolation has been made, and no temporary hospital provided; that cottages have been left for days without being disinfected by the Sanitary Authorities from Colchester, after a death has taken place; that they are unable to destroy infected linen owing to inability to replace it; and that there is no one of sufficient local standing to take steps to put an end to such a state of things; and in view of this condition of local affairs, likely to become much worse, will the Government cause an inquiry to be made, and send down an Inspector to report upon this vital matter?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Sir W. FOSTER,) Derby, IlkestonThe Local Government Board have received Reports from the Medical Officer of Health as to the outbreak of diphtheria in the village of Great Tey and the neighbourhood, and they learn from a Report which they have received to-day that the number of deaths which have occurred since the commencement of the outbreak in September last is 15. The Board have 256 determined to send a Medical Inspector to inquire into the facts. I may at the same time observe that the Medical Officer of Health does not admit the accuracy of several of the statements in the question.