§ Mr. SUTTONasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he 1209W has received a complaint from Mr. Chapman, the husband of one of the victims in the small-pox outbreak at Newhaven this year, that his wife was removed from her bed at home when very dangerously ill from complications following a serious ailment quite apart from small-pox; that she was driven eighteen miles by road in a horse ambulance to the infectious hospital; that these circumstances materially lessened her chances of recovery; and whether he has any observations to make on the case?
§ Mr. BURNSI have obtained from Dr. Farrar, the medical inspector of the Local Government Board, who investigated the recent small-pox outbreak at Newhaven his observations as regards the complaint referred to in the question. It appears that Mrs. Chapman died in the hospital from a severe attack of small-pox which had induced a miscarriage before she was removed to hospital. I am informed that the removal took place in a properly equipped two-horse ambulance carriage with good springs and that there is no reason to believe that the removal lessened her chances of recovery.
§ Mr. SUTTONasked the President of the Local Government Board whether a medical inspector has been delegated to investigate the possible causes of the recent outbreak of small-pox at Newhaven; whether the centre of infection was in close proximity to the sewage outlet; whether the unsatisfactory drainage arrangements have often resulted in an objectionable and unhealthy condition of sanitary affairs in the town; and whether any proposal has been made to carry the sewage further out to sea in future?
§ Mr. BURNSAn investigation has been made by one of the medical inspectors of the Local Government Board into the recent outbreak of small-pox at Newhaven, and it was found that the outbreak was due to infection from person to person. There is no evidence that it was caused by defective drainage arrangements or methods of sewage disposal. The nearest sewer outfall is stated to be a quarter of a mile from the infected houses. I am not aware of any proposal to carry the sewage further out to sea.