§ MR. LUPTONI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, with reference to the recent outbreaks of spotted fever in the United Kingdom, whether there is any practical method of ascertaining that a tube of vaccine virus is at the time of use free from the contagion of cerebro-spinal meningitis; and, if the answer be in the negative, whether he will discontinue the manufacture of calf-lymph until it can be guaranteed free from all extraneous disease germs.
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. John Burns, Battersea)I am advised that there is a practical method of ascertaining the presence of the organism of cerebro-spinal meningitis in vaccine lymph, and that, in the periodic bacteriological examination which is made of each batch of calf-lymph, this organism, if present and alive, would be detected. I am further advised that the processes adopted in the elimination of extraneous micro-organisms from the lymph would undoubtedly destroy the organism in question.
MR. J. W. WILSON (Worcestershire, N.)asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he had taken any steps in regard to spotted fever.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI am issuing a circular to sanitary authorities relative to this disease, and I am forwarding to them a memorandum on the subject, which has been prepared by the medical officer of the Local Government Board. A report has recently been made by Dr. Gordon on the micro-coccus of epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis with special reference to its identification in the upper respiratory passages. This report is in the Press, and will be published in the course of a few days. If further medical 841 investigation is found necessary in connection with this matter, I shall not hesitate to take prompt steps.
MR. J. W. WILSONasked the right hon. Gentleman whether he had reason to expect any immediate danger.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI think there is no immediate cause either for panic or alarm. The local medical authorities are apprised of the position, and are doing their best in this matter.
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)inquired whether the right hon. Gentleman had power to take, or had taken, any means to control the trade in old clothes in the city of Glasgow, through which the disease appeared to have been spread.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSThe Local Government Board is taking every step to ascertain what are the causes likely to spread this disease, and I will especially inquire into the matter raised by the hon. Member.