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(3.) A notice is handed to the officer of every vessel boarded by Her
Majesty's Customs, on arrival at Gravesend. In this way alone
about 11,000 notices are issued annually.
(4.) A special notice is left on board each vessel when visited by your
Inspector, either in the docks or on the river, with the name of
the vessel written in, the counterfoil being filled in at the same
time and retained for reference at your office. Over 71,000 of
these notices have been issued.
INFECTED CLOTHING.
In spite of all the trouble the Board of Trade and the Port Sanitary
Authority have taken to prevent the sending home without proper disinfection
the clothing of persons who have died from infectious disease, cases still
occur of this dangerous practice.
During the half-year the effects of 19 deceased seamen have been stopped
and fumigated for this reason by your officers.
In two cases the deaths were from enteric fever, in two dysentery, in three
"fever," in one typhus, in four yellow fever, in five cholera, and in two no
information was given.
As five of these consignments were sent by consuls or shipping masters,
notice thereof was sent to the Board of Trade.
THE HOSPITAL.
During the past six months four cases have been admitted and treated,
three of these being enteric fever and one small-pox.
It is my duty once again to call attention to the dangerously incomplete
condition of the hospital as regards isolation for small-pox.
Originally intended to have a distinct pavilion, separated by a considerable
interval from the rest of the buildings, and so arranged as to have isolated
administration, this completion has unfortunately never been carried out.
Sooner or later, unless such accommodation be provided, trouble is sure to
arise, and I am anxious to place the position of things fairly before your
Worshipful Committee, leaving the decision and responsibility in your hands.
The proposal of the authorities of the "Worcester" Training Ship, if agreed
to, would have exactly met the difficulty, while helping the proposers out of
a very awkward predicament.