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PORT OF LONDON SANITARY OFFICES
KING WILLIAM STREET,
GREENWICH,
1st July, 1889.
TO THE WORSHIPFUL THE PORT OF LONDON SANITARY
COMMITTEE.
Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present herewith a brief record of the work carried
out in the Port of London by your officers during the first six months of the
present year.
This period has happily been an exceptionally healthy one, but little
infectious disease of any kind having come under the notice of your officers.
Advantage has been taken of this to concentrate attention on the general
sanitary work of the district, such as in the face of epidemic-work it is
well-nigh impossible to give with our extremely limited staff.
The whole system of sanitary inspection has been carefully revised, and,
accordingly, a somewhat higher standard of efficiency required. This to a
certain extent will account for the larger number of vessels in which
sanitary defects have been pointed out and rectified.
It is satisfactory to note that this greater care of detail thus possible has
been thoroughly appreciated by masters and owners, and that with but few
exceptions the same steady support has been given to this Authority as
heretofore.
During the six months 9,713 vessels of all classes have been visited and
examined, with the result that in 288 cases cleansing orders were given and
complied with, being in the proportion 2.9 per cent. of the total number.
Of the whole number no less than 8,583, or 88.3 per cent. were of British
nationality, the next places in point of number being taken by the Germans
and Scandinavians, with the percentages of 4.1 and 4 respectively.
Thirteen vessels were fumigated on account of infectious disease, viz.:—
5 for measles,
4 for small-pox,
1 for scarlet fever,
1 for enteric fever,
1 for chicken-pox, and
1 for fever and ague.