§ Major GASTRELLasked how many boys at Osborne College during the present term have suffered from measles, German measles, and pink-eye, respectively?
§ Mr. McKENNA115 cadets have had measles, 258 have had German measles. There have been sixty cases of conjunctivitis, popularly miscalled pink-eye, but many of them only slight, and in association with attacks of measles.
§ Major GASTRELLasked the First Lord whether, in view of the repeated outbreaks of epidemic diseases at Osborne College, he will consider the advisability of appointing trained matrons who would be capable of detecting the first symptoms of disease, and of so checking the outbreak?
§ Mr. McKENNAIn the opinion of the Admiralty the existing medical staff are qualified to detect the first symptoms of disease, and it is not considered advisable to adopt the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion.
§ Major GASTRELLasked whether medical opinion attributes the prevalence of the illness known as pink-eye at Osborne College to the fact that part of the college is built upon the site of the stables formerly attached to Osborne House; and whether steps will be taken to remedy the existing conditions?
§ Mr. McKENNAConjunctivitis, the disease sometimes miscalled pink-eye, cannot be said to be prevalent at Osborne. There was an outbreak of it in 1904, and it was considered by the medical authorities to be microbic in character, the organisms being spread by contagion and not airborne. There have been a few sporadic cases since, and during the present term, as I have just stated, there have been a number of slight cases mostly in association 384 with the current epidemic of measles. I would add that pink-eye, being an equine disease, has no known connection with the conjunctivitis to which some cadets at Osborne have been subject.
§ Mr. LEEIs there any suggestion that the material of which the houses at Osborne are built, uralite, is in any way responsible for the disease?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe suggestion has been made, but it is not believed to have any foundation in fact.
§ Mr. BURGOYNEIs it not a fact that the buildings where these epidemics have taken place were only put up as temporary houses, and is it not time they were replaced by something more permanent?
§ Mr. McKENNANo; what was called temporary were only in contrast to permanent buildings, which might be expected to last 100 years. The time has not yet come to pull down the buildings.
§ Mr. BURGOYNEDoes not the right hon. Gentleman remember telling me himself they were put up to last a period of ten years?
§ Mr. McKENNANo; I do not remember ever saying a period of ten years. The hon. Member's memory is at fault.
§ Major GASTRELLWill the right hon. Gentleman keep his weather eye on the subject?
§ Mr. McKENNACertainly.