HC Deb 01 March 1915 vol 70 cc540-1
24. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many of the fourteen medical men attached to the Royal Naval Division at the Crystal Palace have, since the outbreak of meningitis, been drafted, with the battalions to which they are attached, to Blandford; how many more will shortly be drafted; and how many will be left at the Crystal Palace?

Dr. MACNAMARA

Nine of the medical officers attached to the Royal Naval Division at the Crystal Palace have been drafted with their battalions—two have been sent in lieu, thus leaving seven medical officers for about 5,000 men. It is not contemplated that any more should be drafted at present.

25. Mr. JOYNSON - HICKS

asked whether the bacteriologist who had been specially appointed to inquire into the causes of the outbreak of meningitis was not specially appointed at all, but was one of the ordinary doctors attached to the Naval Division; and whether he has since been drafted to Blandford?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The bacteriologist specially appointed to inquire into the outbreak is not one of the ordinary doctors attached to the Naval Division, nor has he been in any way connected with the Division, but is the Professor of Clinical Pathology at the Naval Medical School at Greenwich Naturally he has not been drafted to Blandford.

26. Mr. JOYNSON - HICKS

asked whether two officers of the Royal Naval Division died of meningitis last week at their own homes; whether any further cases have occurred; and how many men are still at the Crystal Palace?

Dr. MACNAMARA

One case, not two, of cerebro-spinal meningitis from the Royal Naval Division at the Crystal Palace has died at his own home. Up to to-day there have been eighteen cases in all, with thirteen deaths. There are about 5,000 men still at the Crystal Palace.