London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1906
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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18
Eight ships arrived which were technically infected—particular of these
appear in the following Table:—
TABLE VII. ( Plague.)
| Date. | Name of Vessel, Port of Registry and Official Number. | Where from. | Number of Cases. | How dealt with. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1906. Feb. 5 | s.s. "Itria," of Glasgow, 113,938. | Calcutta | 1 | Removed to Hospital at Suez. |
| Mar. 25 | s.s. "Ortona," of Liverpool, 110,613. | Brisbane | 1 | Removed to Hospital at Naples. |
| June 22 | s.s. "Cluny Castle," of London, 118,323. | Rangoon - | 1 | Removed to Hospital at Rangoon. |
| July 24 | s.s. "Dongola," of Glasgow, 121,270. | Bombay and Yokohama | 2 | One removed to Hospital at Penang, and 1 died— body buried at sea. |
| Aug. 12 | s.s. "Arabia," of Greenock, 105,587. | Bombay | 1 | Removed to Hospital at Plymouth. |
| „ 19 | s.s. "Britannia," of Greenock, 93,196. | Sydney | 1 | Removed to Hospital at Adelaide. |
| Sept. 6 | s.s. "Japan," of Greenock, 102,377. | Yokohama - | 1 | Removed to Hospital at Shanghai. |
| Dec. 9 | s.s. "Persia," of Glasgow, 87,701. | Calcutta | 1 | Removed to Hospital at Port Said. |
| Total | 9 |
The French Government issued a Decree dated 4th May, 1906, containing
Regulations for the destruction of rats on ships coming from ports infected
with Plague.
"Article I.—The destruction of rats exclusively practised by means of
"an apparatus whose efficiency has been recognised by the Superior
"Council of Public Health of France, is compulsory before admission into
"French ports in the case of (a) Every ship coming from a port considered
"as 'infected' with Plague, or having made call there, (b) Every ship
"having taken on board more than 50 tons of merchandise coming directly
"from a country considered as 'infected' with Plague."
The Regulations are applicable to ships having already discharged the
whole of their cargo in one or more foreign ports.
"Article II.—The destruction of rats can be dispensed with in the
"following instances :—
"1. Ships which have landed passengers in a French port without
"accoster ' and making, therefore, only a stay of a few hours.
"2. Ships making a call of less than twelve hours, and discharging
"less than 500 tons of merchandise.
"Article IV.—The destruction of rats can be carried out during the
"voyage by every French vessel having on board a medical officer, and
"provided with an apparatus as mentioned in the first article."
This same regulation is applicable to foreign vessels, provided they carry a
medical officer of the same standing as French vessels are required to do, and
the apparatus used be the same as that in the first Article.
"Article V.—In ports, the destruction of rats is to be carried out before
"the vessel is discharged."
These Regulations are much more stringent than those in force in this
country, where the official destruction of rats is only required when Plague
has occurred either in persons or in rats on board ship, and may be done
either before or after the discharge of cargo.