§ 27. Lord C. BERESFORDasked whether, with regard to the unhealthy condition of Osborne Cottage, in which there are now 136 cases of illness, and having regard to the constant state of ill-health among the cadets, and the fact that the college was built over old stable drains and soil soddened with tetanus germs and the prevalency of the complaint called pink-eye, the Admiralty will appoint a commission of medical men to inquire into and report on the case?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThere has been no case of tetanus at Osborne, and no epidemic, but only isolated cases of the form of conjunctivitis alluded to by the Noble Lord as "pink-eye" during the last two years. I may say that investigations were held in 1905 by the members of the Medical Consultative Board, together with Mr. Fisher, oculist, and independently by Dr. Louis Parker, the sanitary expert, and again in 1910 by Dr. Louis Parker and Dr. A. E. Russell, F.R.C.P. Practically all the alterations and improvements recommended in the reports of these commissions have been carried out. Further, from time to time other medical men have visited and reported on Osborne. It is not considered necessary to adopt now the suggestion contained in the last sentence of the Noble Lord's question.