HC Deb 08 July 1907 vol 177 cc1144-5
MR. FIELD

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he can state the total number of deaths in India from plague since it appeared, giving the number in each year: and what measures have been taken with a view of prevention.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) According to a Return which the Government of India have lately issued, the deaths are:—

1896 1,704
1897 56,055
1898 117,953
1899 134,788
1900 93,150
1901 273,559
1902 577,427
1903 851,263
1904 1,022,299
1905 950,863
1906 332,181
1907(1st January to 31st May) 991,003
Total 5,402,245

The preventive measures which have proved most successful are (1) the systematic destruction of rats; (2) disinfection of houses and clothing; (3) evacuation of infected localities; (4) inspection of travellers; (5) segregation of the sick; and (6) inoculation. I hope shortly to lay Papers upon the Table which will give fuller a account of the policy of the Government of India.