§ SIR WALTER FOSTER (Derby, Ilkeston)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the Indian transport Dilwara, which arrived at Southampton on 6th April, had had a fatal case of plague on board during her voyage: whether the local authorities found their sanitary powers sufficient to protect the local health interests; and whether this is the second occasion within the last few months on which the infection of plague on board ship has been successfully dealt, with in this country without any resort to quarantine detention of vessels and persons?
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLA fatal case of plague occurred on board the Indian transport Dilwara after the vessel had left Bombay. The body was buried at sea; and. under the recent Venice Convention, only the two actual attendants on the sick person were detained at Suez (Moses' Wells), the vessel at once passing through the canal in quarantine. On reaching Southampton on April G the Dilwara was met by a medical inspector of the Board, who acted in concert with the military and local port authorities. No further case had occurred, and under the excellent arrangements organised by the port medical officer, all the 1,235 persons on board were allowed to land, and the existing powers were found to be fully sufficient to protect all health interests concerned. The hon. Member is quite correct in his assumption. This is the second occasion within, the last few months on which the infection of plague on board ship has been successfully dealt 1347 with, without resort to any quarantine detention of either vessels or persons. ["Hear, hear!"]