HC Deb 17 March 1902 vol 105 c162
SIR WALTER FOSTER (Derbyshire, Ilkeston)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that when Lord Roberts was in command in South Africa, all cases of enteric fever among the troops, as well as those occurring amongst civilians, were notified to the Health Office at Pretoria, and that after the departure of Lord Roberts, notification of cases amongst the soldiers was stopped; and what were the reasons that led to the cessation of the system of notification, which is recognised as an essential part of sanitary administration.

MR. BRODRICK

This notification was carried out for a brief period, but it was held that the notification of every case of enteric in a country where the disease is endemic was unnecessary, and that intercommunication of any outbreak of infectious diseases between the Health Officer and the Principal Medical Officer was sufficient.