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
Port of London 1908
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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He resumed duty on the 11th of that month, and on arrival of the vessel
in London was in good health.
The holds and the crew's quarters were fumigated at Grenada, and on arrival
of the vessel at Gravesend all persons were thoroughly examined and found
to be in good health.
The vessel was allowed to proceed to dock, and kept under observation
during her stay in this Port.
The facts were reported to the Local Government Board.
TABLE VII. (Y ellow F ever.)
| Date | Name of Vessel, Port of Registry and Official Number. | Where from. | No. of Cases. | How dealt with. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908. March 8 | s.s. "Saba," of London, 105,713. | West Indies | 2 | One removed at Grenada, one recovered before arrival in London. |
PLAGUE.
This disease continues to show itself in many places throughout the world,
but during the past year the numbers of deaths in India have largely
diminished, and are not nearly so numerous as those which occurred during
the year 1907.
The disease has shown itself in the Straits Settlements, Siam, Philippine
Islands, China, and Japan; a few cases occurred in Australia; it was also
present in California; many countries in South America were affected,
particularly Brazil, Uruguay, the Argentine Republic, Ecuador, Peru, and
Chili. Egypt was also infected, especially the Port of Alexandria; it also
showed itself in British East Africa, Mauritius, Madagascar, and West Africa.
A few ports in Asia Minor were also infected, and, coming nearer home, three
cases of Plague occurred at Liverpool in the latter quarter of the year.
The s.s. "Adelina Patti," of Sunderland, official number 99,617, arrived at
Gravesend from Odessa on the 14th February, having called at Algiers. The
cargo consisted of maize, and on opening No. 1 hatch, twelve dead rats were
seen. These were at once burnt in the donkey furnace,
I gave instructions that if any more rats were found dead or dying they
were to be seized by tongs, placed in a bucket of disinfecting fluid and forthwith
burnt in a furnace on board.
The crew's quarters were fumigated with sulphur with a view to the
destruction of rats therein, and two dead rats were forwarded to the Local
Government Board for Bacteriological examination. The result was negative,
and the vessel proceeded to Barry Roads, the Medical Officer of Health for
that district being duly informed.