§ SIR J. FERGUSSON (Manchester, N.E.)On behalf of the hon. Member for Shropshire, Newport (Colonel KENYON-SLANEY), I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether in the 2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, stationed at Agra, there were, between 23rd February and 27th June 1897, 77 admissions into hospital from enteric fever, resulting in the deaths of one officer and 18 non-commissioned officers and men; whether he can state how many cases of enteric fever were developed in the military hospital by men under treatment for venereal and other diseases; and whether he will institute an inquiry into the causes of this outbreak, and into the water supply?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordThe returns received from Agra do not extend beyond April 30th. During the months of February, March, and April there appear to have been 63 admissions from the 2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment for enteric fever and 12 deaths, the great outbreak having occurred in April. There are no returns to show how many cases were developed in hospital in men suffering from other diseases. A special investigation was immediately instituted, with the result that the water supplied by the municipal authorities has been found to be infected with the enteric microbe. Every possible precaution has been taken; and it was stated in the report for April that the epidemic seemed to be abating.