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The crew and their effects were thoroughly disinfected, and the vessel was
fumigated throughout with sulphur di-oxide gas, and large numbers of rats
were destroyed.
I arranged for the crew to be kept daily under medical observation, and
for any suspicious case to be at once reported to me, but nothing even
of a suspicious character occurred.
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. have since appointed a
Medical Officer permanently for dock duty ; he visits each ship daily, examines
and treats the sick, and furnishes me with a daily certificate, especially
mentioning whether any dead rats have been found on board.
In the event of any case of illness presenting suspicious symptoms, he
will telephone direct to me, and I shall proceed to the vessel and see the
case with him and remove it to hospital for observation, if necessary.
On October 31st, the body of a recently dead rat was discovered in the
grounds of the Seamen's Hospital in the Royal Albert Dock, examination
revealed Post-mortem appearances of Plague, and on further detailed
examination by Professor Klein, this diagnosis was confirmed.
On November 1st, a dead rat was found outside the Hospital grounds,
and bacteriological examination was also positive as regards Plague.
On November 3rd, another dead rat was found, some 300 yards away on
the banks, this also was positive.
The number of rats examined up to the end of the year was 199, but only
the three above mentioned were found affected ; the outbreak was, therefore, a
very small one, and as it was found early, the measures of precaution taken
appear to have been successful.
The recurrence of Plague in the summer months for three years in succession
indicates that especial vigilance is necessary at that time of the year in the
future. Arrangements have been made for a bacteriological examination of
dead rats, so that Plague may not occur amongst the rats unknown
to me.
PLAGUE HAVING OCCURRED AMONGST THE RATS IN THE
DISTRICT FOR THREE YEARS IN SUCCESSION, AND having regard
to the importance to maritime commerce of keeping London free from
infection, the precautions with regard to rats have been carefully revised.
The Inspectors were instructed to visit daily each vessel arriving from a
Plague infected port. Each Sanitary Inspector receives by first post every
morning a return of the arrivals of vessels at Gravesend. Each vessel