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On the 25t,h March, a second case occurred, and was treated in the same
way, the result being that no others were affected.
A slight outbreak of measles has occurred on the " Worcester " training
ship, lying off Greenhithe.
The first case was that of a lad who joined the vessel on 1st May, after 14
days' leave of absence. He was attacked on 6th, and the disease being
diagnosed on 7th, was at once removed to the Port Sanitary Hospital
in an ambulance boat specially constructed for the purpose. It is quite clear
that this lad was infected during his absence from the ship, though the exact
source could not be traced.
On the '29th, three other cases were removed, and a fifth on the following day.
No other boys were attacked until the fith -Tuly, when a single case occurred.
Thus, in all, six were infected, happily all with a mild type of disease.
The fact that so infectious a disorder was thus checked is sufficient proof
(if any be needed) of the extreme value of isolation accommodation for this
and other similar institutions.
Since writing my last Half-yearly Report, the only two training ships without
any such hospital provision, viz., the " Shaftesbury " and the " Worcester,"
have petitioned the Court of Common Council to be allowed to make a mutual
arrangement with your Worshipful Committee for the reception of their
infectious sick.
This petition has been duly referred, and is at the present moment under
consideration.
There would appear to be no question of expense involved, as obviously the
only reasonable arrangement is one whereby the whole of the cost would fall
upon the authorities of the two vessels, while the advantages are obvious.
The Port Sanitary Authority have hitherto treated all the cases from the
"Shaftesbury," and have happily been instrumental in checking two or
three threatened outbreaks.
The only additional responsibility would thus be that due to the
"Worcester," and, judging from the experience of the past, I feel confident
that your present staff would be ample to cope with the increased work.
Beyond the advantage to the ship in having hospital accommodation and
staff constantly ready, there would be the great point gained of removing
infectious cases to a spot already set apart for this purpose, and avoiding the
necessity of establishing small centres of infection in the riparian districts.