Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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A certificate given on oath may be exacted from the doctor of the ship, or,
in his default, from the captain, testifying that there has not been a case of
plague on board since departure, and that unusual mortality among rats has
not been observed
Ships infected with rat plague are subject to the same measures of
precaution, except that the rats must be destroyed either before or after
discharge of the cargo.
On ships where an unusual mortality among rats has been observed, the
rats should be examined for plague as quickly as possible, and until all
suspicion shall be removed, passengers and crew may be subject to
surveillance for a period not exceeding five days from the date of arrival.
Article 25.— The sanitary authority of the port shall, if requested, furnish
a certificate stating that measures of rat destruction have been carried out,
and giving the reasons why they were resorted to.
Article 29.—Due consideration shall be given to vessels carrying a doctor,
also disinfecting apparatus, and in the case of plague, when the ship is
provided with an apparatus for the destruction of rats.
Article 30.—Special measures may be prescribed for ships that are
overcrowded, more especially emigrant ships or ships that are in an unsanitary
condition.
Article 31.—Ships refusing to submit to measures prescribed by a port
authority, shall be at liberty to put out to sea, but passengers may be
allowed to disembark at their request on the condition that they shall submit
to the measures prescribed by a local authority, and goods may be landed
under certain conditions.
Article 32.—Ships that have been disinfected and rats destroyed in one port
shall not be subjected to further disinfection or further destruction of rats in
proceeding to another port unless there is reason to believe that the rats on
board are affected with plague on arrival at the second port.
Article 33.—Passengers are entitled to a certificate from the sanitary
authority showing the date of their arrival, and the measures taken as regards
themselves and their baggage.
Article 35.—States that in every country, ports open to arrival of ships
from ports infected with plague or cholera, must be so equipped that healthy
ships can there undergo the prescribed measures upon their arrival, and not be
sent to another port for the purpose.