§ Sir A. WILSONasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the statement made in the annual report for 1932 on the health of the Army that there has been a steady annual increase in admission for scabies, an infectious parasitic disease, due to the fact that the condition is more prevalent than heretofore in the civil population; and whether he will institute inquiries as to the circumstances in which this infection, unlike all others of its kind, is increasing?
1683W
Sir H. YOUNGI am aware of the statement referred to in the first part of the question, but I am not at present satisfied that there has been any increase in the prevalence of scabies in the civil population or that there is any need for special inquiries on this subject. I would call my hon. and gallant Friend's attention to the fact that in the Report on the Health of the Army for 1933 it is stated that the steady annual increase in scabies referred to in the 1932 report appears to have been checked, for a fall of 97 cases, from 705 (4.2 per 1,000) to 668 (3.6 per 1,000) is reported.