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On visiting the vessel a case of erysipelas was found on board and at once
removed, fumigation being carried out.
The Master had failed to report it through ignorance of the nature of the
disease, and no further action was therefore taken in the matter.
On the 13th May the ship "Hatton Hall" reported having had five cases
of enteric fever on the homeward voyage. They were all convalescent on
arrival, and no action was considered necessary.
During the six months six cases of measles occurred on Canvey Island, and
eight on Great Potton. The infection was derived from the schools.
Thirty-three cases of measles were reported on board vessels arriving in
London, the infection in all being traceable to Calcutta. [See Appendix G.]
Two others were taken to the Port Sanitarv Hospital from an outwardbound
vessel.
THE HOSPITAL.
The Committees of the training ships "Shaftesbury" and "Worcester"
petitioned the Court of Common Council to be permitted to arrange with the
Port Sanitary Committee for the reception in their Gravesend Hospital of any
cases of infectious diseases occurring among the boys under their charge. In
the Public Health Bill now before the House of Lords a clause provides for
the inclusion of the "Shaftesbury" within the limits of the Metropolitan
Asylums Boards for the purpose of dealing with infectious disease. When
this measure becomes law the " Shaftesbury " will therefore be provided for.
After mature consideration your Worshipful Committee decided to recommend
to the Court of Common Council that the prayer of the petition of the
"Worcester" be not complied with, and this has been since agreed to. Thus
the vessel is left with no provision for the isolation of infectious disease, and
with apparently no opportunity of obtaining any. The Port Sanitary
Authority compels every case of infectious disease to be removed from the
ship under the provisions of the Public Health Act as being absolutely
necessary for the safety of the other inmates of the ship.
It is more difficult to isolate infection on board ship than in any building
on shore. Up to the present time attempts to obtain any house on shore as
an isolation hospital have proved unsuccessful.