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The Aliens Act, 1905, came into operation on the 1st January, 1906, and
the Medical Officer of Health was appointed the Medical Inspector under
that Act.
Particulars are given as to the number of alien immigrants arriving, and of
the work carried out in connection with their medical inspection.
The number of cases of Infectious Disease dealt with during the year shows
a large increase both in the number of cases reported, and also in the number
treated in the Port Sanitary Hospital.
Outbreaks of Enteric Fever on the Training Ship "Cornwall" and of Scarlet
Fever on the Training Ship "Arethusa" are fully described.
The Medical Officer of Health also points out that some of these Training
Ships are provided with insufficient accommodation for the isolation of cases
of Infectious Disease; he furthermore expresses a doubt as to whether the
practice of training boys on board ship should be continued.
The Merchant Shipping Bill passed both Houses of Parliament during the
year, and your Committee instructed Mr. Remembrancer to confer with the
Medical Officer of Health, and to do what was possible to improve the sanitary
condition of the crew's quarters on board ships, with the result, that a clause
was inserted in the new Act which increased the cubical space per head from
72 to 120 cubic feet, and from 12 to 15 square feet of superficial area.
The Medical Officer of Health also reports on the condition of the River
Thames and the River Medway within the jurisdiction of this Authority.
Samples of water were taken at various points, and the results of the analyses
are set out in tabulated form.
These figures show clearly that the water coming over Teddington Weir
contains much impurity, and in its passage from there to the sea it is subject
to considerable pollution, but owing to the tendency of running water to
purify itself, the river water, except in certain places in the vicinity of sewer
outfalls, cannot, be said to be in a gross state of pollution.
The analysis of samples of water taken during the flood tide from Woolwich
to London Bridge shows that some of the sewage effluent discharged at
Barking is brought up the river during the flood tide, as high as London
Bridge, and the Medical Officer of Health points out that it is important that
those who discharge such effluent into the river should adopt the best possible
means of purifying the effluent before so discharging it.