§ Mr. JOWETTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state how many persons have lost their lives from anthrax contracted at the works of Messrs. Campbell and Harrison, woolcombers, Shipley, a branch of Woolcombers, Limited, since 1st January, 1900?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe number is sixteen.
§ Mr. JOWETTasked the Home Secretary if he will say how many cases of internal anthrax have occurred during the ten years commencing 1st January, 1900, in establishments where the woolcombing regulations are in force, and how many of these were fatal?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe number of reported cases of internal anthrax in woolcombing establishments during the ten years 1901 to 1910 was eighteen, of which seventeen were fatal.
§ Mr. JOWETTasked the Home Secretary whether he will state how many cases of internal anthrax occurred among wool-sorters during the ten years immediately preceding the one in which the wool-sorters' regulations, issued in 1897, were put into force, and how many were fatal, and the number of cases of internal anthrax among woolsorters during the last ten years, and how many of these were fatal?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe number of reported cases of internal anthrax among woolsorters during the ten years 1901 to 1910 was five, of which all were fatal. One case, which was also fatal, has occurred during the present year. The figures for the ten years preceding the special rules cannot be given as the obligation to notify cases was not imposed until 1896. I am advised, however, that such evidence as there is points to the greater prevalence of the disease then than now.
§ Mr. LYNCHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that under proper conditions, which are possible, the mortality from anthrax should be reduced to nil?
§ Mr. McKENNAI believe that every precaution that can be taken is taken now; but perhaps the hon. Gentleman will communicate with the Home Office what the proper precautions should be. I shall be very glad to consider them.