§ Mr. WILKIEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the death of a girl, aged five years, which occurred at 3, Malcolm's Wynd, Kirkcaldy, on 31st October, was at first diagnosed by two medical men who saw the body, and one of whom is the consultant medical officer of health for Kirkcaldy, as having been due to measles; whether the death was incorrectly entered in the register as having occurred at the Kirkcaldy Smallpox Hospital, in which the patient had never been treated; whether the certificate gave small-pox as the cause of death; and can he state the reason for this variation of expert opinion?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI am aware that of four medical men who saw the body after death, three were of opinion that the death was due to small-pox, and one, who was the consultant medical officer of health for Kirkcaldy, suggested that it might have been due to suppressed measles. I am unable to suggest any reason for this variation of expert opinion. The death was registered as having occurred at 3, Malcolm's Wynd, Kirkcaldy, and the certificate gave small-pox as the cause of death.
§ Mr. WILKIEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether the statistics in the Returns of the Registrar-General dealing with the vaccinal condition of persons whose deaths are ascribed to small-pox are compiled from the death certificates lodged with local registrars; whether on the certificate of a female patient, aged fifty-two years, who died in Kirkcaldy Small-pox Hospital on 25th October, no-mention was made of her having been vaccinated, although she was so classified whilst a patient in the hospital; and have steps been taken to rectify such omission, or will he give instructions that steps be taken, if necessary, in order that statistical accuracy may be assured?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe statistics referred to in the first part of the question are compiled from the death certificates lodged with local registrars, but these certificates are supplemented when necessary by reference to the medical practitioner. In the certificate referred to in the second part of the question, no mention was made of the deceased having been vaccinated; but steps were taken to ascertain the vaccinal condition of the deceased, and statistical accuracy was assured.