HC Deb 07 May 1909 vol 4 cc1411-2W
Mr. HAVELOCK WILSON

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death from beri beri, on 16th October, 1908, of an Asiatic fireman named Md Jaffer Sk Alli, a member of the crew of the steamer "Asama," of Liverpool; whether he is aware that this disease is attributed to insufficient and improper food; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining, and how long he had served on the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; and whether any previous cases of deaths from this disease have occurred on this vessel?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The man referred to died of beri beri in hospital at Hong Kong. The cause of beri beri has not yet been definitely ascertained, but it is probable that bad and insufficient food may predispose to the disease. The man was medically examined at Bombay before joining; he was over six months in the "Asama," but it is not known whether he had had previous sea service. He became sick, and was occasionally off duty soon after joining the vessel. No other death from beri beri has occurred in the "Asama" during the last three years.

Mr. HAVELOCK WILSON

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death from beri beri, on 21st December, 1908, of an Asiatic seaman named Anfurulla Ameer Khan whilst serving on the steamer "Clan Sutherland," of Glasgow; whether he is aware that this disease is attributed to insufficient and improper food; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining, and how long he had been on the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; and whether any previous cases of death from this disease have occurred on this vessel?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The man referred to died of beri beri in hospital at Port Pirie. The cause of beri beri has not yet been definitely ascertained, but it is probable that bad and insufficient food may predispose to the disease. The man had been medically examined before joining, he had been five months in the "Clan Sutherland," and, as he was serving as donkeyman, it is probable he had had previous sea service. Two other deaths from beri beri have occurred in this vessel during the last three years.