§ EARL DE LA WARRasked, What the intentions of Her Majesty's Government were with regard to the importation of rags from Egypt and other places infected with cholera; whether the sanitary authorities of British ports had the power of imposing quarantine regulations; and, if so, to what extent?
§ LORD CARRINGTON, in reply, said, he was happy to be able to inform the noble Earl that the rag trade of Egypt was exceedingly small; in fact, 5,000 tons a-year was quite the outside number of tons; and the Local Government Board had prepared a General Order with reference to the importation, and the Order would be issued immediately, and he would at once lay it on the Table. It was true there was mention made in the papers that an American vessel had recently sailed from Egypt with a cargo of rags. Information was received last week that that ship was coming to Liverpool, and an Order was prepared by the Local Government Board as to how it should be dealt with; but it was not issued in consequence of the Board receiving a telegram that the cargo was not to be disembarked from it, but was to go straight to New York. He had already explained to the House the intention of Her Majesty's Government with reference to quarantine and the regulations that had been issued by the Local Government Board on the subject. These regulations, briefly stated, were that when a ship came in which the officer of Customs had any reason to suspect might be at all infected, the ship was to be at once detained, and ordered to moor outside in such position as the captain might be directed. Notice would then at once be given to the sanitary authority, which would order the ship to be inspected by the medical officer of health. Anyone suspected to be suffering from cholera was to be removed to hospital or other appointed place, and those not removed were to be detained on board ship for at least two days. The medical officer, too, was to take all steps for preventing the spread of infection, and the master of the ship 894 was to destroy all the clothes and bedding of the persons attacked, and disinfect the ship. It had been generally believed that the first case of cholera in 1865 was brought to Southampton in a ship from Alexandria; but careful investigation at the time failed to prove that was the case.