§ SIR WALTER FOSTER (Derbyshire, Ilkeston)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of cases of enteric fever admitted into hospitals at Bloemfontein during each of the eight weeks ending 12th May, and the number of men dying in those hospitals from this disease during the same period; and whether he can state the number of cases of simple continued fever admitted into hospitals in Natal, hospitals in Cape Colony, and hospitals north of the Orange River, respectively, with the number of deaths which occurred among these patients, whether subsequently transferred to the heading of enteric fever or not.
§ *MR. WYNDHAMThe hon. Member has given very short notice of a question involving so much statistical research, but I will do my best to satisfy him with my answer. The number of admittances for enteric fever into hospitals at Bloemfontein and of deaths from the same cause-in the eight weeks ended on 11th May— the week, for the purpose of these returns, ending on Friday—were:—23rd March; admitted, 88; died, 5. 30th March: admitted, 160; died, 9. 6th April: admitted, 166; died, 21. 13th April: admitted, 377; died, 34. 20th April: admitted, 263; died, 44. 27th April: admitted, 224; died, 54. 4th May: admitted, 226; died, 54. 11th May: admitted, 583; died, 65; making totals of 2,087 admissions and 286 deaths. That give a percentage of 13.7. The second question scarcely admits of an answer. I can only give the total admissions for simple continued fever, which were 5,860 and deaths only one. But I think the hon. Member will see that if a case was 397 subsequently diagnosed as enteric fever the death would be set down as from enteric fever and not as from simple continued fever.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLCan the hon. Gentleman say how many of the admissions and deaths were of noncommissioned officers, and how many of men?
§ *MR. WYNDHAMI have the numbers of commissioned and non-commissioned officers and men in parallel columns, but it would be confusing to simply read them to the House.