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15
Enquiry showed that no vessels of these or any similar names had been in
the Port of London for at least three months.
Information of the cases was forwarded the same evening from the Office to
the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney, and to the Local Government
Board.
A post-mortem examination was held next morning (the 25th), which was
attended on behalf of the Port Sanitary Authority. Specimens of material
were obtained and forwarded at once by special messenger to the Local
Government Board for bacterioscopic examination.
The following day (26th) additional specimens were obtained and forwarded
for further investigation.
The bacterioscopic examination failed to establish a diagnosis of Plague,
but that death in each case was due to acute Broncho-Pneumonia following
Influenza.
The cases were of considerable clinical interest, and the prompt action
taken by your Officers on receipt of the information was fully justified.
The International Sanitary Conference was held in Paris from October to
December last on the subject of Plague, Yellow Fever and Cholera.
No official account of the proceedings has yet been obtainable, but from
accounts appearing in the Press it appears that two important questions
discussed were: (1) the reduction of the period for detention of infected
vessels from twelve to seven days, and (2) the recognition of the fact that
rats played an important part in the diffusion of Plague, and that certain
measures should be taken for the destruction of these rodents.
The destruction of rats on board ships and ashore on the premises of the
various Dock Companies has continued. The work is carried on by professional
ratcatchers, who are paid by the Dock Companies and Shipowners,
and over whom your Officers have no control.
In certain of the docks, the dead rats have to be produced to some
responsible person, who keeps the record, but this is not done everywhere.
Although the number of rats destroyed during the year is considerable, it
is doubtful if this represents even the natural increase of births over deaths.