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I directed that hotel addresses were not to be accepted unless the
passengers could produce some documentary evidence that rooms had been
engaged beforehand.
On arrival at the Wharf, the Sanitary Inspector met the vessel, and
telephoned to the hotels given to know if the passengers were expected there,
or whether there was any accommodation for the persons who desired
to go there.
This was found to work satisfactorily, although at the cost of some
inconvenience to the passengers concerned, and additional trouble on behalf
of your Officers.
In countries where quarantine is strictly enforced, the vessel would have
been kept in an isolated spot with the passengers on board, or they would
have been disembarked at a lazaret, and kept there under observation for
several days.
CREWS.
Another possible source of danger was found, owing to the practice of
Masters of vessels arriving from ports infected with Cholera, paying off in
London members of the ship's crew, who, after landing, could not be traced.
Instructions were thereupon given to the Medical Officers at Gravesend to
serve a notice on the master of each such vessel, detaining on board each
member of the crew until he received permission in writing from me that they
could be allowed to land.
This was found to work satisfactorily in practice.
The vessel was visited by the Sanitary Inspector each morning, and, if the
master wished to pay off any man, he was allowed to do so, after the man
had been interviewed and had satisfied the Inspector that he was likely to go
to the address given.
Two men arrived in a destitute condition, giving addresses in the North of
England, but stating that they would have to tramp their way there.
This would have been an easy way of disseminating the disease had they
been attacked on the way, and after satisfying myself that the addresses were
correct by telegraphing to the Local Medical Officer of Health, I sent the men
off by rail under the supervision of an Inspector, after paying their railway
fare, and furnishing them with the railway ticket.