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The whole of the bedding is aired at least once a week, when it is slung up
in the open air on the upper deck, and is never hung up in the sleeping or
living quarters.
The blankets, when removed for disinfection, were found to be apparently
clean.
No second-hand blankets have been purchased.
Milk.—The milk supplied comes from one source, namely, a farm situated
about one mile from the ship.
The milk is brought in sealed cans to the ship.
The Medical Officer to the ship, who is also the Medical Officer of Health
for the district, informs me that the farm buildings are in a good sanitary
state, that the cows drink apparently good water, and that there has been no
history of any suspicious illness at the farm, or amongst any of the persons
employed thereon; he also states that many families in the neighbourhood
have been supplied with milk from the same farm, and that there has been no
sickness occurring in members of these families.
Sanitary Conveniences.—The closets used by the boys consist of a
trough of glazed earthenware, fitted with nine seats, which with a urinal
discharges by means of a soil pipe into the River at the water's edge.
The soil pipe is continued upwards and acts as a ventilator, and there is
also a trough closet and urinal for use at night on the upper deck.
The troughs are flushed by means of an automatic tank which discharges
automatically sixty gallons of water every thirty-five minutes.
The floor is cemented, with a suitable gradient towards an opening, and is
always kept in good and cleanly condition.
Carbolic acid is used to flush down the closets every day; and since the
early part of December, I am informed by the Medical Officer, the closet seats
have been washed down three times a day and the place thoroughly flushed
out with a solution of carbolic acid.
It will be seen from the above tabulated list of cases that a boy (E. B.)
who had been away on leave, ate some cockles on August Bank
Holiday. He returned to the ship, ailed on August 21st, and suffered with
Enteric Fever until September 17th. When he was discharged from
Hospital he returned to the ship, and remained there until he went on leave
at Christmas time.