London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of London 1904

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]

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9
It being clear that there had been an infringement of the Bye-laws relating
to infectious disease, by direction of your Worshipful Committee the facts
were laid before Mr. Solicitor. He was of the opinion that legal proceedings
should be taken, and accordingly the Master was summoned at Gravesend
Police Court on the 4th November, convicted and fined 1/. and costs, bringing
the total up to 4/. 13s. 6d. The maximum penalty is 40s., a sum quite
inadequate to act as a deterrent.
ALIEN IMMIGRANTS.
On the 20th November I received information from the City Police that a
party of foreign gipsies, numbering about 50, having been expelled from
Holland, were expected to arrive at Queenboro' from Flushing.
On enquiry at Queenboro' I was informed that although the party had been
expected, the Zeeland Steam Ship Company declined to convey them, and the
party had gone to Hamburg and were not coming to this country. Notwithstanding
this, as is well known, the gang of gipsies arrived in London by one
of the Dutch steamers and landed in the City, and their wanderings
through the country have been duly chronicled in the public Press.
They were inspected by the Boarding Medical Officer at Gravesend, and
found free from infectious disease. They were therefore allowed to proceed
in the vessel and land in London.