§ MR. HOPWOOD (Lancashire, S.E., Middleton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a statement in the Manchester Courier of 16th February, that an outbreak of small-pox has occurred amongst the soldiers at Halifax Barracks; and that, on being detected, the men were at once removed to the hospital, and that since Saturday the soldiers generally have been confined to barracks; whether all the soldiers had been once or twice or more times vaccinated; and whether he is advised by the medical authorities that re-vaccination is a sure protection against small-pox?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANFive Militiamen at Halifax were attacked with small-pox, and were removed to civil hospitals. The troops were confined to barracks for three days after the outbreak. None of the men 807 attacked had been re-vaccinated. I am advised by the medical authorities that, in their opinion, vaccination or re-vaccination is amply proved by statistics to be a valuable preventive to small-pox, and when the disease does occur it modifies its severity and reduces the mortality in a marked degree.
§ MR. HOPWOODMay I ask my right hon. Friend if he is prepared to say that vaccination is a sure protection against small-pox?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI am not an authority on small-pox and vaccination. I merely quote the opinions expressed to me by my medical advisers.