§ 30. Mr. BYRNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will make a statement as to the condition of the Irish political prisoners in Belfast Prison; if he will state the diet scale they are now on; and how many are now in hospital, and the steps, if any, the authorities have taken to prevent the influenza epidemic spreading?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe medical member of the General Prisons Board, who visited Belfast Prison on Tuesday and yesterday reports that: The condition of the prisoners who are in Belfast Prison is most satisfactory at the present time. There was seventeen of these prisoners under treatment in outside hospitals, nine of whom were transferred to the Mater Infirmorum and eight to the Belfast Union Infirmary. All these cases are progressing satisfactorily, so far. 2277 There are twenty-one cases in the prison hospital, all of whom are doing well; their seizures were of a milder type. There are ninety-six cases in the prison whose attacks were of a mild type and who are in the convalescent stage of the disease. All the prisoners affected are on a diet specially framed by the medical officer. It is full, varied, nutritious and most satisfying. The steps taken to prevent the epidemic spreading are—isolation, disinfection, and instant removal to the prison or outside hospitals. Since the epidemic manifested itself no further prisoners have been transferred to the special prison at Belfast. The medical officer, the assistant doctors, and their staff have been unsparing in their attention to all the patients, for whom everything possible has been done. Notwithstanding the very high mortality prevailing amongst influenza patients elsewhere, happily it may be added that out of the present total of 165 officers and prisoners affected in Belfast Prison with the disease no death has occurred.