SIR WALTER FOSTER (Derbyshire, Ilkeston)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the R.M.S. "Nile" was visited and inspected by the port sanitary authority before she entered the port of Southampton; whether any offer was made to isolate persons who had been in contact with the case of smallpox on board; what steps were taken to advise the local authorities of each place to which the passengers and crew departed of the necessity of supervision and isolation; and how many cases of smallpox have up to the present occurred in connection with the case on board the R.M.S. "Nile."
§ * MR. GERALD BALFOURI have made inquiry on this subject and I understand that the "Nile" was visited off Netley by the medical officer of health and by a sanitary inspector of the Southampton Port Sanitary Authority, that no offer was made to isolate persons who had been in contact with the case of smallpox on board, but that the only person who was stated to have been in contact with him was disinfected, and kept under observation by the port sanitary authority. I also understand that the names and addresses of the passengers and crew were obtained, and that the local authorities of each place to which these persons stated they were proceeding were informed by post the same night. Up to the present time I have heard of nineteen cases of smallpox in England and Wales as having occurred in connection with the case on board the "Nile." Fifteen of these occurred in Southampton, eleven of which were infected on board the vessel, whilst the others occurred amongst persons who had been in contact with them.