§ Mr. Viantasked the Secretary of State for War under what authority soldiers returning to this country were disembarked at Suez on the orders of the ship's captain; why that was done when they had been vaccinated as smallpox contacts; how long the 40 smallpox contacts from the " Georgic " were kept at Suez; whether any of them developed smallpox there or on the way home; and what remedy soldiers have against detention of this sort.
§ Mr. LawsonThe men who were disembarked at Suez had all been in close contact with a patient who contracted smallpox, before smallpox had been diagnosed and before they had been vaccinated. This action was taken on the recommendation of the Assistant Director of Hygiene, Middle East Force, because it was considered that these men were more likely to develop smallpox than others and that, therefore, they should be segregated both in their own interests and in order to prevent the spread of infection to their comrades. I have no information as to how long these men remained at Suez or as to whether any of them subsequently developed smallpox. The normal practice would, however, be to segregate them for the usual quarantine period of approximately 16 days and then embark them on the next available ship. I assume that this is what was done in this case. The steps taken to protect the health of the troops in this ship were in accordance with the accepted medical policy which is designed to prevent the spread of smallpox and its introduction into this country.