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The patient had not been on shore for some months, but two or three cases
were known to have occurred in the village, and several others within a short
distance. The boys on joining the ship are vaccinated or re-vaccinated, this
boy had been vaccinated in infancy, and re-vaccinated three times unsuccessfully
since joining the ship.
On the 25th June a case of diphtheria was reported on board the training
ship "Worcester" lying off Greenhithe, and in the apparent absence of any
other source of infection the Medical Officer of the ship suggested the foul
condition of the river water as a possible source of infection.
THE HOSPITAL.
During the past six months five cases have been admitted into the Port
Sanitary Hospital, two small-pox, one measles, one enteric fever, and one
chicken-pox.
It is my duty once again to call attention to the fact that there are no
proper means of isolation of small-pox cases in the Hospital, and a certain
amount of risk exists whenever they are treated in the present building
together with other diseases. A small pavilion might easily be erected at
a considerable distance from the present buildings at a small cost and
separately administered. This would do away with the whole difficulty and
the isolation of one disease from the other would be properly accomplished.
METROPOLITAN SEWAGE DISCHARGE.
There is practically nothing fresh to report with regard to the sewage
question in the River Thames. This vast experiment is being energetically
carried out, and is from time to time reported to have affected the condition
of the river water. From constant observation of the river this would appear
to be dependent mainly, if not entirely, upon climatic influences.
Thus during the hot weather in the spring the river was in a bad condition,
while during the month of June it materially improved. It has been previously
pointed out that the Authorities are entitled to the utmost latitude with regard
to the carrying out of a system which at present does not promise to be
successful.
CANAL BOATS ACT, 1884.
There is practically nothing new to report with regard to Canal Boats.
The inspection of these boats forms an integral part of the work of your