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

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Port of London 1907

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

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15
CHOLERAIC DIARRHÅ’A.
The s.s. "San Lucar," of Christiania, from Las Palmas, arrived at
Gravesend on the 20th January, when a fireman was removed to the Port
Sanitary Hospital at Denton suffering from severe diarrhoea, vomiting,
cramps in his abdomen and limbs, and he was in a collapsed condition.
The vessel left Drammen on the 22nd December.
On the 25th December a fireman was taken ill with vomiting, slight
diarrhoea, which lasted three days, and,then the man resumed work.
On the 12th January another fireman was taken ill with similar symptoms
which lasted four days.
On the 16th January the fireman taken ill on the 25th December again
suffered from similar symptoms, which, however, only lasted about twelve
hours.
On the 19th January the fireman who was subsequently removed to Denton
Hospital was taken ill. The man appears to have ailed after partaking of a meal
of hash made of tinned meats and potatoes, and a cup of coffee. He became
much better after admission to hospital, and the improvement continued for
three days, when he had a relapse, became collapsed, with vomiting, cramps,
severe diarrhoea, watery stools, &c.
My opinion is that the symptoms were produced by some unsound article
of food, but as the symptoms were very much like those of Asiatic Cholera, a
specimen of faecal matter was sent to the Local Government Board for
bacteriological examination, the result being negative as regards Cholera.
As a precautionary measure the vessel was disinfected and the names and
addresses of the passengers taken and notified to the Medical Officers of
Health of the various districts to which they were proceeding.
The vessel left London on the 22nd January for the Tyne, and the facts
were reported to the Medical Officer of Health" for that district.

TABLE VI. (Choleraic Diarrhcea.)

Date.Name of Vessel, Port of Registry, and Official Number.Where from.Number of Cases.How dealt with.
1907. Jan. 20s.s. "San Lucar," of ChristianiaLas Palmas1Removed to Port Sanitary Hospital.
Total -1

YELLOW FEVER.
Yellow Fever existed in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Ecuador, Mexico, Trinidad,
Barbadoes, Cuba, Western Africa. No case has been reported on any vessel
arriving in the Port of London during the year.