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13
INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
In my previous Annual Reports I called attention to the reduced number
of cases of infectious disease reported on vessels arriving in the port.
The total number for the year now under review shows a still further
reduction, with a corresponding reduction of the number of cases admitted
to hospital.
I am without any information as to whether this reduction is due to
particular causes, but it seems reasonable to assume that the strictness of
medical inspection which at present prevails, not only in this country but in
many ports abroad, may have some influence in this direction.
The total number of cases of infectious disease reported on vessels arriving
in the port was 144, and of this the largest number were, as usual, cases of
Enteric Fever, namely 39, Measles and Scarlet Fever coming next with
23 and 21 respectively ; whilst of Smallpox only eight cases were reported, and
of Cholera and Plague five and six cases respectively.
Of the five cases of Cholera reported, two which were suspicious were landed
at Denton Hospital, as was also the case with two of the six suspected cases of
Plague, the other cases having been removed to foreign hospitals.
Of the eight cases of Smallpox reported, only two were found on vessels on
arrival, and both of these were removed to Denton Hospital.
With regard to Scarlet Fever, the bulk of the cases were furnished by
training ships in the River Thames, most of them occurring on the training
ship " Warspite."
Of the 39 cases of Enteric Fever reported on vessels, 17 were admitted to
Denton Hospital. This disease is, as will be seen, of fairly frequent occurrence
on vessels, more especially on those carrying passengers.