§ MR. JOHN AIRD (Paddington, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Local Government Board if further inquiries will now be made to ascertain the cause of, and as to the best treatment for, influenza, outside medical aid being sought to strengthen the advice and opinions already given by the Medical Officers of the Department; and, whether information could be obtained from other countries for useful comparison as to the methods adopted for dealing with the malady?
THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Sir WALTER FOSTER, Derby, Ilkeston)The Local Government Board have instituted more than one inquiry as to the cause of influenza, and the results of those inquiries are contained in Reports which have been presented to Parliament. In dealing with this matter the Board have availed themselves of aid outside their own medical staff. The subject continues to receive the attention of the Board, and at the present time they are employing outside aid in the study of the patholological and bacteriological relations of feverish cold (the so-called "influenza cold") with influenza proper. Information is from time to time received from other countries respecting influenza, and an opportunity is thus afforded for a comparison, in reference to this disease, of administrative measures of various kinds.