HC Deb 26 May 1908 vol 189 c939
DR. RUTHERFORD

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India what is the death rate from plague for the first quarter of this year as compared with the rate for last year in the Punjab Bombay Presidency, United Provinces, and the whole of India respectively.

MR. BUCHANAN

The incidence of plague deaths per mille of the population in the first quarter of this year was Punjab, 0.6; Bombay Presidency, 0.8; United Provinces, 0.3; whole of India 0.2. For the corresponding quarter of 1907 the incidence was: Punjab, 7.6; Bombay Presidency, 2.1; United Provinces, 2.4; India, 1.3. The total number of plague deaths in India was 68,648 in the first quarter of this year, compared with 380,236 deaths in the corresponding quarter of 1907.

MR. LUPTON

Is it not the fact that the plague has been kept alive in India by the system of inoculation for the last eleven years?

MR. BUCHANAN

I do not think there is any foundation for that suggestion.

MR. LUPTON

But was not evidence given before the Royal Commission proving that?

* MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member has got his Answer.