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8
always on the move, but the place of those leaving is regularly filled by fresh
arrivals, so that the figures quoted are found to be fairly constant over a long
period.
It will be at once appreciated, in view of the wide extent of the Port, that
the degree of sanitary supervision exercised at the beginning and for many
years after the creation of the Port Sanitary Authority, was of a very general
character.
It was the visitation of Cholera and its spread throughout the Country
during the preceding decade, that doubtless led to "the desire for a more
particular examination, from a sanitary view, of vessels arriving from foreign
ports.
At that time also the River Thames was practically a common sewer for
the metropolis. There was, consequently, abundant scope for sanitary reform,
and records show that the Port Sanitary Anthority played an important part,
not only in causing sewer outfalls to be closed, but also in bringing about the
appointment of a Royal Commission which resulted in the present method of
dealing with the sewage of Greater London.
A commencement was made by appointing a Medical Officer of Health,
with an Inspector of Nuisances, who made use of a rowing boat for visiting
vessels in the River.
Very soon another Inspector was found necessary, and an office for the
Medical Officer of Health was found at the Foreign Cattle Market, Deptford.
The rowing boat was found impracticable, and was replaced by a small steam
launch of the " upriver " type.
By the year 1882 the number of Inspectors had risen to three, and offices
were established at Greenwich.
The condition of affairs was such that there was no lack of work for
Sanitary Officers.
The Hospital of the Authority at that time consisted of an old hulk moored
off Gravesend, in charge of caretakers, with a visiting Medical Officer, and
during the severe epidemic of Small-pox in London in 1881, this vessel was
made much use of, not only for the reception of cases of Small-pox from
vessels, but also for the treatment of cases from the City of London.
At this time the Small-pox ships of the Metropolitan Asylums Board were
moored off Deptford.
In 1883, the old hospital hulk "Rhin" was condemned, and the existing
hospital at Denton was founded on shore.
In this year also, the staff of Inspectors was raised to four.