§ GENERAL RUSSELL (Cheltenham)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India have arrived at any conclusion regarding the cause of the great increase in enteric fever among European troops in India; whether the investigations which it was promised should be made are concluded; and whether it is proposed to adopt any special measures to arrest the spread of this malady?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingNo definite conclusion has been arrived at as to the cause of the increase in enteric fever among British troops in India, and the investigations on this subject are still proceeding, selected medical officers having been specially detailed for this duty. Generally, the measures taken to check the spread of the disease are the improvement of the water supply, the provision of pure milk and butter, and improved sanitation of camps, cantonments, and barracks. One cantonment, Dragshais, where there have been serious outbreaks of enteric fever, has been completely evacuated for a year, pending the installation of an improved water supply and the disinfection of the barracks and their vicinity.