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33
ALIEN IMMIGRATION.
The Report of the Royal Commission appointed to investigate the import
of Alien Immigration has been issued during the year.
Your Medical Officer gave evidence before the Commission on the following
points:—
"(1) The methods employed in respect of Aliens on arrival in the Port of
"London.
"Under this heading it was shown that the majority of Alien Immigrants
"arrived in London from four ports, namely, those of Rotterdam, Bremen,
"Hamburg and Libau.
"The vessels from Libau sail under the Danish flag, and on these vessels
"the accommodation provided for emigrants was grossly deficient as regards
"ventilation, lighting and cleanliness, and there was no provision for separating
"the sexes, and lavatories, water-closets, &c., were used in common.
"Four steamers sail each week from Hamburg, three from Rotterdam and
"one from Libau.
"That the Alien Immigrant was subjected, on arrival, to a modified medical
"examination by one of the Medical Officers appointed by the Corporation of
"the City of London, and stationed at Gravesend, who visits the vessel and
"ascertains whether any sickness is, or has been, on board. If any sickness is
"reported, the Medical Officer proceeds on board and examines the patients,
"and if a case of infectious disease is discovered, the vessel is moored, and the
"patient detained and landed at Denton Hospital. The remaining passengers
"are examined, and if there is no risk of their spreading disease, are allowed
"to land on giving their names and addresses of destination.
"Under certain circumstances special medical examination takes place, as,
"for instance, if vessels arrive from ports at which the exotic diseases of
"Plague, Yellow Fever or Cholera are known or suspected to exist, they are
"boarded and the passengers medically examined.
"The Medical Officer does not at the present time inspect or deal with
"passengers on the sole ground that they are in a dirty condition in respect
"of their persons or clothing.
"(2) The condition of Aliens on arrival.
That it was important to consider the personal condition of the Alien
"Immigrants on their arrival, of (a) health, (b) cleanliness, (c) means of
"subsistence.