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the incubation period of smallpox, 7-16 days, had come to an end. The period of waiting under
these special circumstances afforded an exceptional facility for applying the appropriate measure
of smallpox quarantine control, namely, vaccination, disinfection and surveillance.
No Port Medical Officer could ever have recommended the granting of 'free pratique' with a
clearer conscience than your Medical Officer did in this episode.
SECTION VIII - VENEREAL DISEASE
Venereal Disease is not compulsorily notifiable to Medical Officers of Health but efforts are
made both by the Boarding Medical Officers and the Port Health Inspectors to bring to the notice
of seamen using the port the facilities available for tree treatment and the importance of obtaining
skilled treatment as early as possible.
Should there be a known case, it is usually possible to arrange for the patient concerned to
be taken at once to the nearest clinic of the Seamen's Hospital or other hospital in the vicinity
of the ship.

ON THE ALERT
When the s.s. "Stratheden" arrived at Gravesend on the 16th February, it was reported to
Dr. D.T. Jones, the Assistant Port Medical Officer who boarded the vessel, that the Assistant
Steward was suffering from a Fever of Unknown Origin with (?) Pneumonia.
In the course of his enquiries Dr. Jones learned that the patient had brought with him two
parrots. In view of the indefinite diagnosis, the possibility of the man havingdeveloped psittacosis
(parrot disease) could not be dismissed. The man was transferred to Denton Hospital and by
arrangement with the Central Public Health Laboratory a blood specimen was taken from the
patient.
Fortunately the result was negative to psittacosis, but this case is an example of the value
of making detailed enquiries and the necessity for the Boarding Medical Officers to be alert.
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