70. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that typhoid fever is not considered by the medical profession as contagious in the ordinary acceptation of that term, and that until lately typhoid patients have been treated in general hospitals side by side with others and without infecting them; and, if so, whether he will publish a statement to that effect and circulate it throughout the Army?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am afraid I cannot agree with my hon. Friend. Typhoid is considered to be undoubtedly conveyed by contact, though not to the same extent as scarlet fever for example, and for some considerable time now special wards in military hospitals have been set apart for these cases.
§ Mr. TENNANTThat is not in accordance with my information, but I will make further inquiry if the hon. Member has any doubt.
71. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is prepared from time to time to supply lists of the names and addresses and the condition as regards inoculation of men in the British Army who have died from enteric fever?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe names and particulars as regards inoculation of men in the 1131 British Army who have died from enteric are invariably obtained and filed at the War Office, and I will consider the possibility of furnishing returns from time to time.
72. Mr. CHANCELLORasked whether inoculation against typhoid is compulsory in the German, Austrian, French, Belgian, Russian, and Serbian Armies, or any of them; whether any official Returns of the number of cases and of deaths have yet been issued; and, if so, what are the respective numbers of both in each Army?
§ Mr. TENNANTI have no knowledge whether inoculation is compulsory in the Armies referred to. The War Office has received no official Returns in these cases.
73. Mr. CHANCELLORasked whether the introduction into the American Army of voluntary inoculation against typhoid was deferred until 1909, after the mission in 1908 of Major Russell to study and report to the American Government on methods in use in England; and in which month of 1911 inoculation was made compulsory?
§ Mr. TENNANTI do not know whether the introduction of voluntary inoculation was deferred in the circumstances mentioned. Compulsory inoculation began in the month of March, 1911.
Mr. CHANCELLORDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman contradicts the statement of President Taft that compulsion commenced only in the autumn of 1911?
§ Mr. TENNANTIf President Taft did state that, I did contradict him, but I was not aware he had made any such statement.