London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1905
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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46
It is probable, nay likely, that the condition of their food deteriorates,
either due to living organisms or to mere chemical change.
It is well known that Asiatics, especially Chinamen and Malays, are fond
of eating fish in a semi decomposed condition, and this is a possible source of
the disease. In the Straits Settlements a very large proportion of the total
number of deaths are due to this disease.
The symptoms point to the circulation of an organic poison in the blood
which affects the nerves, producing Paralysis in a more or less marked degree.
The result is analogous to that associated with Diphtheria and Tetanus.
In the former disease living organisms grow in the throat, produces a poison
which is absorbed into the blood and acts upon the nerves, producing Paralysis.
In the case of Tetanus, the organism grows in some superficial wound
producing its poison, which, after absorption into the blood, acts upon the
nervous system, producing violent convulsions.
A more simple illustration is that of the yeast plant, which, growing in a
solution of saccharine matter, produces alcohol, which, when absorbed into
the blood, has its effect on the nervous system, producing in some persons
a state of excitement, and, if taken in sufficiently large quantities, ultimately
a condition of temporary Paralysis.
The following cases have occurred on vessels arriving during the year
TABLE XIII. (Beri- Beri.)
| Date. | Name of vessel. | Where from. | Number of cases. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1905. | |||
| 4th January | Barque "Lota," of Bristol, 98,826. | Java | 1 |
| 2nd February | " Ruby," of Skien | Pensacola | 1 |
| 7th February | s.s. " Euphrates," of | Port Pirie | 3 |
| 10th June | London, 114,805. "Paul Isenberg," of Bremen. | Caleta Bueno | 4 |
| 17th October | s.s. "Strombus," of London, 112,650. | Singapore | 2 |
| 23rd December | s.s. Clan Lindsay," of Glasgow, 115,470. | Vizagapatam | 1 |
| 24th December | s.s. "Ching Wo," of Livernool. 104.799. | Manila | 1 |
| Total | 13 | ||
HEALTH OF CREWS (SCURVY).
On the 28th October the sailing ship "Esmeralda," of Nordby, from Lobos
de Terra, arrived at Gravesend, and the Master reported that a death had
occurred on board a fortnight previously, and further, that most of the crew
were complaining of illness. The crew of 13 were medically inspected by
the Boarding Medical Officer, who found six of them ill and suffering with
Scurvy. They were referred to the Seamen's Hospital.
I understand that on the 29th October two of the men were admitted to
the Seamen's Hospital at Greenwich, and on the 31st five more were admitted
to the same hospital, all suffering with Scurvy.