§ MR. WEIRTo ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that although the White Star Liner "Victorian" arrived in the Mersey at 7.30.a.m. on the 22nd May four smallpox patients were not removed until she arrived at the Wallasey stage at 3 p.m.; and, in view of the risk attending the removal at the stage where there were a number of cattle drovers and other persons, will he state why a tug was not sent out to the vessel on her arrival in midstream to take these sufferers direct to the port hospital at New Ferry; and will care be taken that similar cases are more promptly dealt with in future.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) I am aware of the facts referred to in the first part of the Question, and I obtained a report from the Medical Officer of Health of the port of Liverpool on the subject last month. There were three cases of smallpox on board the vessel, and it appears from the report that, owing to the critical condition of one patient and the height of the steamer above the decks of the tug, it was considered unsafe to land the patients in the tug, and arrangements were accordingly made to land them at the stage. On arriving at the stage no one was allowed on board, due notice being given to those 663 on the stage of the reason; the people were cleared off the gangway and every precaution appears to have been taken in the landing of the patients to prevent any spread of infection. I may add that all infected bedding and clothing were burnt, suspected articles were disinfected, and the vessel was thoroughly fumigated and washed down. I see no reason for objecting to the course adopted in this case.