§ 29. Mr. W. BAKERasked the Minister of Health the number of cases of smallpox reported in England during the present year; and in how many instances there have been fatal results?
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN6,607 cases of small-pox were notified in England, excluding Monmouthshire, during the present year up to the 16th instant. The number of deaths up to the end of May in respect of which small-pox appeared in the medical certificate as the cause, or one of the causes, of death, was 46. It should be added that these figures are at present provisional, and that no case of small-pox has been notified this year from a port sanitary district.
§ Mr. BAKERIs there any justification for thinking that the disease to which his answer refers is in any sense different from the disease hitherto known as smallpox?
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs not vaccination the only cure?
§ Mr. DAYHas the right hon. Gentleman any statistics which will show, roughly, how many of these cases are caused by persons wandering over the country—by tramps?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo, I have no statistics which would show what percentage of persons suffering from smallpox are casuals.
Dr. DAVIESCan my right hon. Friend say how the figures compare with the figures for the same period last year? Is there an increase or decrease?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINSpeaking from memory, the total number of cases last year was 14,000, and, as the number I have given is 6,600 for a half-year, it would seem that there is no great change.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODAre we to understand that this is the explanation why the Government make small-pox a national charge: that the Government and the ruling class fear small-pox, but do not fear starvation, and therefore leave it to charity?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise on this question.
§ 30. Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEasked the Minister of Health when the Report of the Departmental Committee on Vaccination will be publisher?