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The matter was referred to the City Solicitor, who, after consultation
with the Local Government Board, reported that the training ships were
within the jurisdiction of the Port Sanitary Authority, who had the same
power of compelling persons suffering from infectious desease to be removed
to hospital from them, or from any other vessels, but that there was no legal
obligation to compel the Corporation to receive them into their hospital, any
more than there was in the case of a vessel arriving from a foreign country.
In short, Section 124 of the Public Health Act, 1875, providing that
" where any suitable hospital is provided, any person who is suffering from
" any infectious disease on board any ship or vessel may, on a certificate
" signed by a legally qualified medical practitioner, and with the consent of the
" superintending body of such hospital, be removed by order of any Justice
" to such hospital," applies equally to all vessels in the port, whether
permanently stationary or engaged in commerce.
OTHER DISEASES.
On the 8th February two Lascars were taken to Port Sanitary Hospital
from s.s. " Ravenna " for measles. The vessel left Bombay 6th January.
On the 25th Januarv one Lascar was attacked, on 31st another Lascar and
two children, and on 3rd February a Sedee boy.
The Lascars were shipped in Bombay, and were there infected.
The vessel was detained at Plymouth for twelve hours, and finally allowed
to come on with the cases on board.
v
On 8th March the s.s. " Clan Macgregor," on arrival, reported a case of
measles on voyage. Convalescent on arrival.
On 9th May the s.s. " Chusan " arrived at Gravesend. She left Melbourne
on 23rd March, and on 7th April a case of measles appeared, a second on the
19 th, and a third on May 2nd, a case of continued infection.
The first recovered on board, the second was landed at Colombo, and the
third at Plymouth.
On the 18th May the s.s. "Iberia" passed into the Tilbury Dock after
having sent two cases of measles to the Port Hospital. The first case
occurred on 9th April, and was followed by nine others.
They were all isolated on board, and eight were convalescent on the arrival
of the ship.