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9
With the exception of the employment of a clerk in the Greenwich offices,
to cope with the increasing office work, no material change in the staff took
place until the year 1892. In this year there was a serious epidemic of
Cholera in Hamburg, and the fear of the introduction of the disease into the
Port of London was realised.
The unfortunate victims did not pass Gravesend, where they were discovered,
and the living and dead were transferred to Denton Hospital.
The vigilance that consequently became necessary was more than could be
adequately carried out by the existing staff.
Medical attendance was absolutely necessary night and day on vessels
arriving at Gravesend from infected Ports, while closer inspection of the
sanitary districts and the following up of foreign immigrants was also
desirable.
That year, therefore, saw the inauguration of a system of medical inspection
at the entry of the Port—a system, the great value of which has been amply
demonstrated on many occasions in subsequent years.
Three Medical Officers were ultimately appointed temporarily, this number
affording a shift of 24 hours on and 48 off duty for each, for the work of
inspection has to be carried out by night as well as day, and also on Sundays
and public holidays.
The entrance to the Port of Rochester is at Garrison Point, Sheerness, and
a Medical Officer was appointed to inspect all vessels from foreign passing
Sheerness.
The Senior took over the duties of Medical Officer to the Hospital on the
retirement of the former visiting practitioner.
A Trained Nurse and Assistant were installed at the Hospital, in addition
to the Caretakers, thus superseding the occasional hired nurses ; and additional
river transport was provided at Gravesend in the shape of a larger steam
launch, so that by the end of 1897, the staff of the Port Sanitary Authority
stood at:—
Medical Officer of Health 1
Medical Officers for boarding purposes 4
Inspectors 7
Two steam launches 7
Boarding hulk 2
Hospital 5
Offices, Clerk and two Assistants 3
Total 29 persons