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11
All persons suffering from dangerous infectious disorders would have been
removed to hospital—the Local Government Board were especially apprehensive
o£ the presence of small-pox and enteric fever amongst the refugees.
(2) If any of the passengers had been obviously filthy and unwholesome,
they would have been landed at Denton Hospital, cleansed, their clothes
disinfected, and arrangements were made at the Hospital for doing this.
(3) If any of the refugees had been in a state of collapse, or suffering from
some illness other than an infectious disorder, which would have rendered them
unfit to travel without danger to life, I intended to have landed them at Denton
Hospital as a matter of common humanity, so far as accommodation was
available.
(4) A supply of bread, milk, bovril, tea and hot water could have been
available at short notice in the event of any of the refugees suffering from want
of nourishment.
The Local Government Board arranged to telephone to me and send a telegram to
the Hulk at Gravesend directly they received any information of the departure of vessels
conveying refugees from Antwerp.
These arrangements were kept available throughout Saturday and Sunday, the 5th
and 6th September respectively, but on Monday, 7th September, I received a letter from
Dr. Buchanan, of the Local Government Board, saying that there had been a hitch
about transport and certain international matters, and that it was uncertain if the scheme
would take effect.
The British Government had consented to receive these refugees, had taken over
all the arrangements for transport to this country and their reception after arrival, and
in accordance with the instructions of the Court of Common Council, I rendered all
possible assistance and co-operated with the Government Officials in every possible way,
at the same time carrying out all the duties of Medical Inspection, &c., as the Port of
London Sanitary Authority are required by statute to do.
The refugees began arriving on Friday, 11th September, by the ordinary passenger
boats of the Great Eastern Railway Company, which usually ply between Antwerp and
Harwich, so that they arrived under satisfactory conditions as regards personal
cleanliness, food, &c.
The boats usually arrived in the evening, the largest number on any one boat being
928, and 13,389 refugees have arrived in this Port up to 31st December. They were
all medically examined before leaving the boat, or before embarkation, for infectious
diseases, and then were landed by a tender at Tilbury station, where special trains were
in waiting to convey them to their destination.
A supply of bovril, milk, &c., was available on the station platform, handed
round by kind voluntary helpers, whilst a doctor and nurse were in attendance, who
travelled with the train, so that the refugees were well looked after, and seemed much
to appreciate the kindness shown them on their arrival in this country.
I desire to express my appreciation of the assistance given me by Dr. Willoughby
and the other Medical Officers of this Authority, cheerfully and willingly rendered at
times when they were not officially on duty.
It was not found necessary to admit any of the refugees to Denton Hospital, either
for infectious disease or for other causes. Three children were found suffering with
measles, but they were allowed to go to the hospital of the Metropolitan Asylums Board
in charge of a doctor and nurse of the Metropolitan Asylums Board.