§ MR. D. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how long the Royal Irish Constabulary have been in occupation of the new barracks in Musgrave Street, Belfast; how many cases of fever have occurred since the Constabulary entered into occupation of the place, and how many of the men have died from fever therein; and what steps have been taken by the authorities to check or prevent the spread of fever since the first case occurred in the barracks in question?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (MR. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralEight cases of fever have occurred in this barrack since its occupation on the 12th December 1893. Four men, two of whom were in delicate health, have died from fever since that date. On the occasion of each outbreak of this disease (typhoid fever) the Public Health Department was informed, and the Medical Officer of Health and his assistants accompanied by the Medical Attendant to the Royal Irish Constabulary and the Officer of the Board of Works, by whom the barrack was built, made a careful examination of the barrack premises, drains, and sewers, with the result that they could not find that the disease had originated from any defect in the sanitary arrangements. As I have already informed my hon. Friend the hon. Member for East Belfast, the Officers of the Public Health Department, the Constabulary Medical Officer, and the Board of Works are at present making further investigations into the matter.