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In the previous Order an Officer of H.M. Customs had no power to detain
a vessel for medical inspection if the master of such vessel had answered the
questions put as to the existence of Plague, Yellow Fever or Cholera in a
satisfactory manner. This provision in the recent Order will be of great
service to the smaller Port Sanitary Authorities.
Part III. deals with the action of Port Sanitary Authorities.
In accordance with the provisions of Article VI, a mooring place has, with
the approval of His Majesty's Customs, been fixed abreast of Denton Hospital
in Gravesend Reach, and this also applies to such vessels as may arrive
at Sheerness.
Article VII. provides that the Sanitary Authority, on notice of such detention,
shall forthwith cause the ship to be visited and examined by their Medical
Officer of Health.
Inasmuch as a Medical Officer of this Authority is always on duty at
Gravesend by day and night, and accompanies the Officer of His Majesty's
Customs, such notice is unnecessary, and any delay that may arise therefrom
is entirely obviated.
Article VIII.—The Medical Officer of Health, if he has reason to suppose
that a ship lying within the Port of London is an "infected" or "suspected"
ship, he shall visit and examine the ship, or if he has reason to suppose that
the ship has come from, or has during the voyage called at an infected port,
he may visit and examine the ship, and the master of such ship shall, on being
required so to do by the Medical Officer of Health, cause the ship to be brought
to, and if necessary, moored or anchored, and shall permit the ship to be so
visited and examined.
Article IX. provides for the issuing of the certificate in the event of the
Medical Officer of Health forming the opinion that the ship is an " infected "
or "suspected" ship.
Article X. provides for the mooring or anchoring of "infected" or
"suspected " ships.
Article XI. provides that no person, other than the Officer of Customs, or
person in execution of this Order, shall leave such ship when moored
or anchored.
Every person certified by the Medical Officer of Health on board such ship
to be suffering from Cholera, Yellow Fever or Plague, shall be removed
to Hospital.
Article XV. provides that persons on board "infected" ships shall not
be allowed to land until the Medical Officer of Health has been satisfied as to
the name and intended address of such persons.
Article XVI. gives the Medical Officer of Health power to take such steps
as may appear to him to be necessary for preventing the spread of infection.