§ MR. O'MALLEY (Galway, Connemara)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord- 1284 Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that typhus fever has broken out in Oughterard, county Galway; that three deaths have already occurred; that the local hospital is full of patients suffering from this disease; and whether he will make immediate inquiries as to the cause of this epidemic, which is attributed to the extreme destitution of the people consequent on the failure of the potato crop last year.
§ (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) An outbreak of typhus fever occurred in this district early in February, since when four families, comprising twenty-five persons, have been affected. Three deaths have occurred, sixteen persons are still in the fever hospital, and six have been discharged cured. The Local Government Board have already fully investigated the matter, and are satisfied that the outbreak was not due to the destitution of the people but to insanitary conditions. None of the people affected were destitute, and none had applied for relief at the time of the outbreak. The local medical officer of health, in consultation with the medical inspector of the Local Government Board, is making every possible effort to prevent the spread of the disease. Three additional fever nurses have been appointed by the guardians. There is every reason to hope that no further cases of fever will occur.