§ MR. SCHWANNI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the attention of the Secretary of State has been called to the excessive mortality in recent years in the North-West Provinces and Oudh, and in the Punjab, as compared with other parts of India; and whether, and, if so, what, steps have been taken to prevent the continuance of such a high mortality?
*MR. G. RUSSELLThe figures show that, while there was a high mortality in 1890 and 1892, the death-rate in 1891 was below the average. The 775 mortality of 1890 was officially attributed to climatic causes. The Sanitary Reports for 1892 have not yet been received. Sanitary improvements are being pushed on throughout India as fast as the circumstances permit. It is not to be expected that any steps which may be taken will prevent a specially unhealthy season from increasing the death-rate.