§ 16. Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEasked the Minister of Health if he can now state the vaccinal history of the fatal cases of small-pox in the s.s "Tuscania"; and, if not, will he make an official statement on the subject at an early date?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINOf the seven deaths from small-pox amongst the passengers and crew of the "Tuscania," three were of persons who had not been vaccinated and four of persons who had been vaccinated only in infancy. Two of the former were vaccinated and three of the latter were re-vaccinated during the incubation period of small-pox. The 1696 ages of the persons who had been vaccinated in infancy ranged from 28 to 37 years.
18. Mr. MALONEasked the Minister of Health whether he has at any time refused to sanction funds to any public body for payments made to persons who may be small-pox contact cases; and whether he has any information that several municipalities are so doing?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am advised that in ordinary circumstances it is not necessary for small-pox contacts to refrain from following their occupations, if they are subjected to regular medical supervision during the incubation period of the disease. It is not, therefore, the practice of my Department where my sanction is required to sanction the payment of compensation except in those cases in which it is necessary for the protection of the public health that the contacts should abstain from work. As regards the second part of the question, I am aware that this practice has been adopted in certain boroughs where my sanction is not required.