§ Mr. FORRESTasked the Under-Secretary of State for India the number of deaths from malaria in India during the last five years; and whether, in view of the fact that to drain or otherwise destroy the breeding places of the mosquito is to make an end of malaria in that particular region, every effort is being made to eliminate mosquito pools where these exist?
§ Earl WINTERTONDeaths from malaria are included in the Indian returns under the general head of deaths from fever. These were (in round numbers) 11,100,000 in 1918; 5,400,000 in 1919; 4,900,000 in 1920; 4,700,000 in 1921; 3,600,000 in 1922. There is no doubt that a very large proportion of these deaths are due to malaria. Public health being a transferred subject, the matter referred to in the second part of the question is not under the control of the Secretary of State or the Government of India. Recent reports show that the desirability 949W of attacking the breeding places of the mosquito are fully realised by the health authorities of the Provincial Governments, but the difficulties in the way of taking effective measures on a large scale are enormous.