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 1920
Report for the year ended 31st December 1920 of the Medical Officer of Health for the Port of London
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Influenza— continued.
| Date. 1920. | Name of Vessel, Port of Registry and Official No. | Where from. | No. of Cases. | How dealt with. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brought forward | 335 | |||
| April 8 | s.s. " Moora," of London, 139,025. | Persian Gulf | 17 | Malta 4.13 died on board. |
| „ 15 | s.s. " Kanawha," of Liverpool, 102,122. | Halifax | 1 | Admitted to Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich. |
| 22 | s.s. " Grampian " | St. John's | 6 | Ditto. |
| June 3 | s.s. " Trevilley," of St. Ives, 133,216. | Rosario | 1 | On board. |
| „ 19 | s.s. " Narkunda " | Bombay | 5 | Ditto. |
| July 7 | s.s. "Ceramic," of Liverpool, 135,474. | Sydney | 50 | Ditto. |
| „ 14 | s.s. " Prinz Ludvig," of London, 143,122. | Bombay | 48 | Landed at Beyrout and Port Said. |
| Aug. 7 | s.s. " Dongol," of Glasgow, 121,270. | Antwerp | 1 | Admitted to Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich. |
| 24 | s.s. " Kamo Maru," of Tokio | Yokohama | 2 | On board. |
| „ 28 | s.s. " Cairnvalon " | Montreal | 10 | Ditto. |
| Sept. 2 | s.s. " Kashmir " | Calcutta | 1 | Ditto. |
| Dec. 4 | s.s. " Syria " | Bombay | 1 | Ditto. |
| Total | 478 | |||
INFLUENZA.
The measures for prevention of Influenza which were adopted in the Port are as
follows:—
The Ministry of Health pamphlet was freely distributed on incoming ships and on
those in port by your Medical Officers and Inspectors.
A circular letter was addressed to the shipping companies using the Port, enclosing
instructions to Masters of vessels. These instructions supplements the Ministry of
Health pamphlet as measures especially applicable to ships.
Medical attendants on ships in the Port, as far as known, have received the offer
of the Government vaccine, which was distributed from the office at Greenwich, and
shipping companies were informed that the vaccine could be obtained thence for
disposal on outgoing ships.
A few severe cases were received into Denton Hospital from incoming ships.
The whole of the staff of the Authority on the Hulk "Hygeia" and Launch
"David Burnett," as also the Hospital staff, accepted vaccination.
There is evidence that the immediate isolation of cases of "colds" in native
crews controlled the disease among them. Your Medical Officer considers isolation
the most effective measure of control on ships.
13/2/1920.
Gentlemen,
INFLUENZA.
I enclose some directions to Masters of vessels which with proper use would, I think, control
Influenza on board ship. I should be glad if you would diffuse these directions; they are
purposely given in the vernacular.
From this office is distributed the Ministry of Health vaccine for preventive inoculation.
Surgeons attached to your ships, whether ashore or afloat, can have this on application, in such
quantities as they can make use of either for passengers or crews. The numbers it is proposed
to vaccinate should be approximately stated in applying for the vaccine.
The vaccine should be called for at this address.
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) W. M. WILLOUGHBY,
Medical Officer of Health,
Port of London.
Distribution List.