§ MR. SAMUEL SMITHI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether he has yet ascertained the correctness of the statements that an official notice has been posted at Bombay to the effect that the right of selling children's opium pills had been given to the Bombay opium contractors, and that such pills could be bought at all the Government opium shops in Bombay; whether he is aware that such pills are largely used by 526 native women employed in cotton factories for the purpose of quieting their children; whether he is aware that the sale for a similar purpose in this country of "soothing syrups," containing preparations of opium, is universally reprehended by the medical profession, and that, under the British Pharmacy Act, such sales can only be effected by registered druggists, and that such syrups must be labelled "poison;" and whether the Secretary of State will give instructions that similar restrictions should be applied to the sale of children's opium pills in India, so that buyers may be warned of the serious danger to the health and even to the life of young children incurred by such pills being administered to them?
* MR. GEORGE RUSSELLThe practice of selling opium pills for children attracted the attention of the Bombay Government in 1891, and it was found that these pills were sold in some 300 licensed and unlicensed shops. The sale has now been limited to 11 licensed shops, under conditions which give the licence holder no material interest in the sales. Further inquiry is now being made, and the Secretary of State will consider what action to take when the promised Reports are received.
§ MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)Will the Reports be received before the last day of this month?