HC Deb 19 October 1909 vol 12 cc129-30
Mr. CONOR O'KELLY

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), whether his attention has been called to the fact that a Norwegian named Obsen, employed at the whaling station on Iniskea Island, in the county of Mayo, was recently admitted to the local hospital in Belmullet, and was certified by the hospital doctor to be suffering from beri-beri; and, if so, is he in a position to state the causes that led to the outbreak of this disease?

The VICE-PRESIDENT of the DEPARTMENT of AGRICULTURE (IRELAND) (Mr. T. W. Russell)

The Department have ascertained that a Norwegian sailor employed in a steamer catching whales off the Mayo coast was admitted to Belmullet Infirmary on 11th September last, and on the 12th he was transferred to the Fever Hospital. He was discharged as cured on 21st September. He was afterwards admitted to the Leith Hospital, where he died from inflammation of the heart. No traces of beri-beri were observable.