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26
On the 23rd September a case of enteric fever was reported on steam
ship " Deerhill," lying in the Commercial Dock, and on visiting the vessel
two other cases were found. They were all taken to the Port Sanitary
Hospital. She had been lying for some time at Ibrail, where the disease
was contracted.
On the 26th September it was reported that a man who had left his barge
"Connaught" at Gravesend on 14th was suffering from enteric fever.
On enquiry it was found that he had been taken ill on the 10th, but that
the disease was not diagnosed until the 22nd, when no certificate was sent
under the Notification Act, as the man was not then living in the Port, and
it was not considered that he had become infected therein. The barge was,
therefore, at once fumigated.
On the 18th October a patient with enteric fever was taken to the Port
Sanitary Hospital from the Russian vessel " Nicolai Sivland," and the vessel
fumigated.
She arrived on the 5th, and the man was not attacked until the 7th. She
had been visited on arrival, and had reported " all well."
On the 18th November another case of enteric fever was reported on the
steam ship "Devonshire," lying in Dudman's Dock.
She left Sunderland on the 5th, and the patient was first taken ill on the
9th. He was sent to the Port Sanitary Hospital with all his effects, and the
vessel fumigated.
During the last half-year the question was raised as to how far masters of
vessels were aware of the liability to penalty for failing to report infectious
disease, and more especially as to efficacy of the system adopted by the
Authority to inform them on the point.
Careful enquiries were made and it was shown that the present system
worked well, that masters generally showed knowledge of their obligations,
and that in some cases where this was denied, evidence was forthcoming as to
the repeated service of notice.
The means taken to procure publicity are as follows:—
(1.) A copy of the regulations has on three occasions been sent with a
circular letter to every owner, or broker, of vessels trading to
London, to every shipping office and yacht club.
(2.) Notices of the provisions of the Notification Act are posted on
specially prepared enamelled iron boards at all the steamboat
piers, pier-heads, and at certain points throughout the docks and
wharves on the river. The number of such boards in present
use is 74.