§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if, having regard to the great loss and inconvenience entailed on the shipping interest, seamen, ocean passengers, and all connected therewith, by reason of exaggerated Press rumours respecting the prevalence of cholera in Great Britain and consequent unnecessary quarantine restrictions on British ships in foreign ports, he is in a position to inform the House officially whether there is any foundation for imputing a general epi- 1584 demic of Asiatic cholera in any part of the United Kingdom, and particularly at the Port of Southampton; and if his medical advisers consider that there is the slightest danger of infection from cholera in England on board a ship with a clean bill of health in that regard 14 days at sea from Great Britain?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERWith the exception of three or four ports on the Eastern coast, all the ports of Great Britain have been throughout the year absolutely free from cholera, and the Local Government Board do not consider that there is any foundation for imputing a general epidemic of Asiatic cholera in any part of the United Kingdom. We are not aware of any case of cholera at the Port of Southampton. The medical advisors of the Board are clearly of opinion that there is no danger of infection from cholera on board a ship which has, since leaving a British port, been at sea for 14 days, and has been free from cholera and choleraic diarrhœa.