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As you are aware, the Ministry of Food Eat Orders as amended in 1919, and now the Rat
and Mice Destruction Act which replace those Orders, constituted that voluntary effort a duty,
and also conferred duties and powers on the Port of London Sanitary Authority in connection
with the rats ashore and on ships in the Port Sanitary District.
The very cordial interrelation of the officers of the respective Port Authorities concerned
and the methods hitherto fruitful are not disturbed by the change of aspect which the several
duties imposed imply.
I would bring to your notice the appointment by the Port Sanitary Authority of myself, the
Assistant Medical Officers and each of the Sanitary Inspectors in this Authority as Rat Officers.
There is, therefore, now a Statutory Rat Officer in each dock—the Sanitary Inspector, whose
functions would be—
(1) The collection of all possible information with regard to the rats in his district.
(2) The searching for conditions which lead to and maintain rattiness.
(8) To bring the result of his investigation to the notice of a responsible officer of the
Port Authority and to me.
I would suggest that there be some one officer in each dock to whom the rat officer of this
Authority might look for information, and who would see that the whole area under his
supervision moves toward a freedom from the pest along lines which, on full consideration and
agreement between the Authorities, would seem likely to give a permanent result; and that there
should be subdivisions in each dock area under junior officers, who should be responsible for the
maintenance of trapping, setting of poison baits, and carrying out other minor methods of
harassing, such as temporary stopping of runs, &c. Such an organisation is, I understand
already in existence, and only needs strengthening and direction.
As to the broad principles on which infestation may be overcome, I think they are all in
practice in various docks. The foremost is an internal and external proofing of places of storage
of food, wherever these are situated, by concrete flooring and iron sheeting of pervious walls.
In particular, every refectory should be on an impervious base.
In the Royal Albert Dock the system of sanitary conveniences on the North side has a
bearing on the rat problem. The laying down of a water carriage system would aid in rendering
the banks less ratty. The present cesspools supply food on the spot while the banks supply
lodging. At this point, however, the effects of the ratcatchers' work is reported to be marked.
The fact that four ships left London infected with Plague last year, all from about the
neighbourhood of No. 15 Shed in the Royal Albert Dock, suggests the absolute necessity of
keeping the docks rat proof. Since it is probable that one, or perhaps two, of these ships
brought the infection to this spot, where interchange of rats took place, I notice with interest
the inclusion in the draft bye-laws of your Authority the principle of rat-guarding all vessels.
Insistence on the observation of this measure will aid in the prevention of infestation as also of
infection.
It is the intention of the Port Sanitary Authority that the extended powers conveyed, as
regards ships, in the Port Sanitary Authorities (Infectious Diseases) Regulations, 1920, shall
act in the same direction.
The advance toward rat proofing of all food storage places implies a large programme. It is
not suggested that any drastic changes should be forthwith carried through, but rather that
steady progress towards rat proofing be maintained. In all new buildings, and in all renovations
against dilapidations, structural rat proofing should receive its due consideration, while obviously
ratty places should be temporarily treated by palliatives until the convenient time for complete
proofing.
As an illustration I would cite the refectory in connection with, or practically surrounded by,
Messrs. Green and Silley Weir's premises on the North Quay opposite Nos. 13 and 15 Sheds,
Royal Albert Dock. A month ago the occupier informed me of a mortality—seven dead rats had
been found on these premises a few months previously—constituting just the suspicious
circumstances which should have been known to me earlier; but the point here is that the
structure and state of the refectory is one that calls for change as soon as possible.
A similar dilapidation is instanced in No. 7, H.M. Customs Office, Commercial Yard West,
in the Surrey Commercial Dock, affording that shelter in proximity to foodstuffs which is the
condition for inevitable rattiness.
It is not my intention here to point to the several places where ratty conditions are obvious
and removable. On survey of the docks I propose to bring these to your notice listed, and with
suggestions for your consideration which balance economy in money and labour against the
object in view—the preservation of a Plague-free port.
Meanwhile I shall be glad if you will let me know the responsible officers with whom the
rat officers may co-operate, and the precise present organisation for dealing with rats, for each
dock; also to whom the Port Sanitary Authority should look for amelioration of rat conditions
if these be found in buildings or areas let out to tenants.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) W. M. WILLOUGHBY,
Medical Officer of Healthy
Port of London.