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14
In the early part of 1881 regulations were drawn up for the guidance of
masters of emigrant ships for dealing with cases of infections, but no
compulsory powers were obtainable.
In February, 1883, I called the attention of your Worshipful Committee to
section 125 of the Public Health Act, 1875, which provides that "any Local
"Authority may make regulations (to be approved of by the Local Govern"ment
Board) for removing to any Hospital to which such Authority are
"entitled to remove patients, and for keeping in such Hospital so long as may
"be necessary, any persons brought within their district by any ship or boat
"who are infected with a dangerous infectious disorder; and such regulations
"may inflict a penalty on any offenders." It appeared that such regulations
might reasonably demand notification as one of the most important elements
in dealing with such cases.
At my request it was, therefore, resolved that, in conjunction with the City
Solicitor, I should draw up certain regulations which were approved by the
Local Government Board, and still remain in force.
They require that, when a vessel arrives at Gravesend with infectious
disease on board, the officer in charge shall report to the Medical Officer of
Health the existence of such disease ; and, when required, shall convey the sick
person to Hospital, under a penalty of five pounds.
This is a most useful measure, and one which has been found to work well,
having since been copied by many other Port Sanitary Authorities. But,
as I have frequently pointed out, it is incomplete. There are a large
number of vessels, such as sailing barges, which trade within the limits of the
Port, and, therefore, although constantly plying to and fro, can never strictly
be said to " arrive " in the Port of London.
The whole of this class of vessel is, therefore, at the present moment,
exempt from compulsory notification. In the regulations under the Canal
Boats' Act, 1877, it is provided that " in every case where a person on a canal
"boat is seriously ill, or is evidently suffering from an infectious disease, the
"master of the boat, if at the time the boat is proceeding on a journey, shall, as
"soon as may be practicable, give information thereof to the Sanitary Authority
"within whose district is situate the canal, or the part of the canal along
"which the boat may at the time be passing, and, on the arrival of the boat at
"its Port or place of destination, to the Sanitary Authority within whose
"district such Port or place is situate, and also to the owner of the boat, and
"the owner of the boat, on receiving such notice, shall himself notify to the
"Sanitary Authority having jurisdiction in the place to which the boat
"may have been registered as belonging."
Unfortunately, the sailing barges trading in the Port are already
registered under the Merchant Shipping Act, and, therefore, cannot at present