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The fact was communicated to the Medical Officer of Health for Gravesend,
but no further precautions could be taken beyond the disinfecting of the tug
and vaccination of the crew.
Yaccination was offered to all on board the tug, the owner, in a publicspirited
manner, offering not only to pay their private doctor for doing this,
but also to pay the wages of any man off duty from this cause. In spite of
this the men refused to be vaccinated.
On the 13th July, the s.s. " Historian," of Liverpool, from Calcutta, having
on board four passengers and a crew of 134 hands, comprising Europeans and
Asiatics, arrived in the Port of London.
One of the members of the Asiatic crew was found to be suffering from
Small-pox. The disease was in a late stage, but the man had been released
from isolation the day before, and allowed to mingle with the remainder of
the crew. Inasmuch as he was in an infectious state, it was necessary to
remove him to the Port Sanitary Hospital, and to disinfect all the natives'
effects, which was done by landing them at the Port Sanitary Hospital and
treating them with superheated steam.
The s.s. "Grange" arrived from Grangemouth on the 21st July. One of
the crew had remained at home at Cupar-Fife, feeling unwell, and on the 21st
July, after the arrival of the vessel in London, a telegram was received from
the Medical Officer of Health, Cupar-Fife, stating that the man had developed
Small-pox. The vessel was immediately disinfected, and all infected articles
on board removed to the Port Sanitary Hospital for disinfection by steam.
The s.s. "Aurora" arrived from Oran, North Africa, on the 25th July,
and was boarded at Gravesend by the Medical Officer on duty. The second
engineer was found to be suffering from Small-pox, and was removed to
the Port Sanitary Hospital, together with the third engineer, they having
both occupied the same cabin, with all infected bedding and effects. The
members of the crew were mustered and examined, and vaccination was
offered to all, nine accepting. Disinfection of the vessel was duly carried out
by your Officers.
On the 30th August, the s.s. " Kronos, " of W. Hartlepool, arrived from
Sunderland, and proceeded to the Poplar Dock. The same day one of the crew
was admitted to the Seamen's Hospital, and found to be suffering from Smallpox.
After disinfection the vessel returned to Sunderland, the facts being
communicated by me to the Medical Officer of Health at that Port.