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Appendix E. gives in a tabular form the structural alterations carried out by
order of your Officers. It shows that a total of 179 alterations were carried
out on 158 vessels. These include 41 alterations for the improvement of
ventilation, 100 for additional means of lighting, heating and cleansing,
while 38 involved the condemnation and destruction of improper receptacles
for water, and the provision of new ones, in the majority of cases of galvanised
iron. It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of this particular
department of our work in its bearing upon the health of our merchant navy,
and its powerful influence in the prevention of disease. Ample powers are
given to your Authority by the Public Health Act, 1875, but, as usual, T have
to report that the penal clauses of that Act are practically never put into
force, and but rarely even alluded to.
In appendix F. is a list showing that 85 structural alterations affecting 76
vessels have been ordered, but are not yet carried out.
As I have previously explained, many of these alterations are made, but it
is a rule not to return them as complete until they have been actually inspected.
This will account for there being always a large (though not an increasing)
number of outstanding orders.
SMALL-POX.
Very few cases have come under notice, two only having actually been
brought into this country, one to Portland, and one to London.
On 29th January, a case was reported from Whitechapel.
The patient was admitted into Hospital at Lisbon on 10th (where there were
several cases of small-pox), and remained there five days. He came home
in the s.s. " London," reaching London on the 20th, and at once left the ship
and went to his home in Upper East Smithfield.
On the 27th {i.e. 12 to 17 days after he was exposed to the danger of
infection at Lisbon) he was taken ill and applied to the Seamen's Hospital,
and at once sent on to the Asylum Board's Hospital, and the case reported to
your Officers.
This man, although obviously infected on arrival, left his vessel in
apparently perfect health, and showed no signs of disease until seven days
after.
The vessel was at once fumigated and thoroughly cleansed.