THE EARL OF CARNARVONasked Her Majesty's Government, What measures they have taken, either separately or in conjunction with other Governments, to ascertain the nature and most effective treatment of the pestilence now raging in parts of Russia? and to move for copies of any sanitary regulations issued as regards English ports and of quarantine regulations in force in Malta and Gibraltar. The importance of the subject could hardly be over-estimated, for although there was some uncertainty as to the nature and the best mode of treating the disease, there could be no doubt that it was of a contagious and deadly character, bearing a strong resemblance, in the majority of its external symptoms, to the worst class of Asiatic plague that had raged in former years. Perhaps there was no one of their Lordships who was more entitled than himself to call attention to this matter, because he had not only seen Asiatic plague raging, but had himself suffered from it so severely that, although the attack occurred many years ago, he still entertained a lively impression of its horrors and danger. Most of the Governments of Eastern Europe had already adopted precautionary measures against the introduction of the plague within their borders; and he thought it desirable to ascertain what steps Her Majesty's Government, for their part, had taken in regard to it. He would specially ask the noble Duke what measures had been taken by the authorities at Malta and Gibraltar. He was glad to see that the College of Physicians had already moved in the matter. So far as the existing evidence went, there was reason to believe that the most effective means of preventing the importation of the disease was quarantine; and although perfectly aware of the great inconvenience of this remedy, he trusted that, in view of the terrible interests at stake, no merely theoretical objection to it would be allowed to prevail.
THE DUKE OF RICHMOND and GORDONIn reply to the last part of the Question, I can assure the noble 1185 Earl that the subject of the plague has occupied the very serious and earnest attention of Her Majesty's Government, and they are already taking such measures as have seemed to them advisable in dealing with the plague, with the view of preventing its reaching this country. Germany and Austria, if I am not mistaken, have already received permission from the Russian Government each to send a competent physician to assist in an inquiry as to the origin of the plague and the best means of treating and dealing with it when it arises. Her Majesty's Government have also made a proposal to the Russian Government to be allowed to send a physician to take part in the same inquiry; and I have been in communication with the College of Physicians, and have requested that they would be good enough to recommend to Her Majesty's Government some gentleman whom they would think to be a fit and proper person to take part in such an inquiry, provided always that we receive the permission of the Russian Government to do so. I have also instructed the officers of Customs to inspect very narrowly the bills of health of all passengers and crews of ships coming from the Black Sea and the Sea of Azof; and I have been in communication with the medical advisers of the Government, requesting them to point out what goods they consider most calculated to carry infection. I have also been in communication with the quarantine officer of the Privy Council, a very eminent gentleman, and I have asked him whether anything can be suggested in the mode of disinfection employed that may be advantageously used, should, unhappily, this dreadful scourge visit this country, which I do not myself anticipate. I will read an extract from a letter I have received from Dr. Wiblin, the resident Medical Superintendent of Quarantine at Southampton. He says—
With reference to your inquiries on the subject of disinfection, I can very safely and satisfactorily inform you, after a very long experience, that every possible security from infection of persons and goods may be relied upon by the free employment of nitrous acid fumes, produced by pouring fuming nitric acid upon copper filings. This is very easily done, and the results are most satisfactory. No living atom or molecule or man himself can exist in these fumes for more than a few seconds, as Dr. Seaton can testify from his personal experience at the Motherbank.1186 Whether that is satisfactory or not, it shows the strength of this disinfectant. He continues—Any given number of plates or other convenient vessels are arranged with given quantities of copper filings, and then the acid is poured into the plates. The portholes and other openings are then closed for 12 hours or longer, and the goods subsequently exposed to the purifying influence of the atmosphere for days.So far as this disinfectant goes, I think my noble Friend will admit we have sufficient practical knowledge of what can be done in case the necessity should arise. I have also put myself in communication with the College of Physicians upon this subject; and I have had an interview with the eminent President of that body, Dr. Bennett, who informed me that the College are to hold a meeting upon this subject, and promised to communicate to mo the result of the discussion, and any suggestion which might occur to him or his colleagues after they had gone thoroughly into the matter. As regards the regulations on the subject, I feel that under the quarantine laws we have ample power to take any measures that may be necessary should the plague reach this country; and we are prepared to act at a moment's notice. I have instructed the Customs to detain any vessel from any part of the world if there are any suspicious circumstances connected with that vessel when it reaches this country, and that they are at once to telegraph to the Privy Council Office, when I shall take the requisite means for dealing with it. At the Motherbank there is an ample quarantine establishment of three vessels; and upon an emergency we could easily obtain, in different parts of the country, other vessels for the purpose of separating healthy passengers from those who may be sick, and preventing communication with persons on shore. It has not been thought advisable to keep up permanently a very large establishment of quarantine vessels. That would, of course, be very expensive, and it would be a useless expenditure of publi money if we thought, as we do, that we had the means of acquiring these vessels at any time, should the plague visit this country. I am informed by the Colonial Office that Gibraltar has not reported having imposed any quarantine against the plague. Malta has provisionally, and subject to rectification, imposed 1187 quarantine of 20 days on arrivals from Greece, Montenegro, the Turkish Empire, including Egypt (except ships passing through the Suez Canal), Tripoli, Tunis, Black Sea, and Sea of Azof—which, in case of ships of war, is reduced to nine days. The propriety of ratifying these arrangements is being considered by the Colonial Office, Admiralty, and Board of Trade. Malta has imposed this quarantine because Italy has taken a similar course, and would have imposed quarantine on arrivals from Malta if the Island had not taken this course. With regard to the regulations issued, and which my noble Friend proposes to move for, I hope he will be satisfied with having elicited this answer from me. The regulations are numerous and bulky, and it would not be convenient for any purpose that they should be laid on the Table. I can assure him that the matter has had the very earnest attention of the Government, and will not be lost sight of, though we have no ground for believing that there need be any alarm or apprehension of the arrival of the plague in this country.
THE EARL OF CARNARVONsaid, he was satisfied with the answer of the noble Duke, and would not move for Papers.