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19
The s.s. "Wakasa Maru" arrived at Gravesend on the 16th December.
The vessel left Yokohama on the 17th October last on a voyage to London,
calling at several ports.
Four cases of Cholera occurred between Yokohama and Singapore, and the
vessel therefore came within the provisions of the Regulations of the Local
Government Board relating to Cholera, Yellow Fever and Plague as a vessel
infected with Cholera.
It appears, however, that adequate measures of disinfection had been
adopted on the arrival of the vessel at Singapore, and that no further cases of
Cholera, or of any disease or sickness resembling Cholera, had occurred from
the time the vessel left Singapore until her arrival at Gravesend.
A detailed examination was made by your Medical Officer, who boarded
the vessel at Gravesend, with the result that all persons on board were found
in good health. The vessel was therefore allowed to proceed to dock, and
arrangements were made for a daily visit to the vessel for the purposes of
inspection, and medical examination of all persons on board.
This was carried out during the whole time that the vessel remained in the
Port, a certificate of the medical examination being furnished to your Medical
Officer daily.
The vessel sailed from the Port of London for Middlesbrough on the 22nd
December, and the circumstances were duly reported to the Medical Officer of
Health of the latter Port for his information and guidance.
HEALTH CERTIFICATES.
There has been a considerable increase in the number of applications for
Certificates of Health in respect of vessels that have come from " infected "
ports. These vessels frequently bring cargo for transhipment to other
countries, and in order that these goods may be landed at foreign ports, the
owners have been asked to produce a Certificate, signed by your Medical
Officer, that there has been no case of infectious disease on the vessel during
the voyage to London.
Several foreign countries also require that vessels coming from London,
which have previously arrived from an "infected" port, should be disinfected
by the Port Sanitary Authority, and produce a Certificate to that effect. This
has been done in a large number of instances. A fee is charged both for the
Health Certificate and for the Disinfection Certificate, the amount thus
collected being duly credited to the Port Sanitary Account in the Chamber.