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which may be brought to this country from abroad. It mainly affects port sanitary
authorities and officers connected with shipping, who have to take all necessary
measures to prevent the spread of infection, but provision is made for any person who
has not been certified to be suffering from either of the diseases mentioned in the
order being permitted to leave an infected ship, provided he has satisfied the
medical officer as to his name, intended place of destination, and intended address
at such place. Such name, place of destination, and address, is to be forwarded to
the Local Authority of the district in which such intended place of destination is
situate. Should any person within forty-eight hours after landing arrive at some
place of destination or address other than that given to the port medical officer, he
is required to notify in writing his address to the medical officer of health of the
Sanitary Authority, or to the Local Authority, of the district in which the address is
situate.
With reference to
THE PLAGUE
mentioned in the General Order of the Local Government Board, it is now about two
centuries since this fearful disorder disappeared from this country, and we trust
never to return. From time to time during the present century the pestilence has
been heard of ravaging cities and districts in the East, and about twenty years ago
it invaded south-east Russia. In 1894 there was an outbreak in Hong Kong, and
during the latter portion of 1896 it made its appearance in Bombay, and has since
spread to several other towns and districts in India.
The germs of the plague may be conveyed through the medium of infected goods,
and as the traffic between this country and India is great, it is quite possible that
cases of the disease may from time to time have to be dealt with at some one or
other of our numerous ports.
The plague is a disease especially associated with insanitation. It may be
expected to prevail where dark, ill-ventilated, dirty and overcrowded dwellings exist.
and where defective drains are found, where the people are unclean, and the laws of
health are disregarded. No epidemic need be feared where the conditions under
which the people live aro sanitary.
SMALLPOX.
The only case of smallpox which came under my notice during the year, was that
of a man aged 39 years, a stone mason by trade, who had been living in a common
lodging house in Limehouse. On December 18th, 1895, he came into Shoreditch and
was living at a common lodging house in the Kingsland Road when he was taken ill
on December 28th. The eruption shewed itself on the 30th and the patient was seen
by a medical man who notified the case and had him removed to hospital on December
31st, and the premises were disinfected on January 1st, 1896. Instructions were