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is marked by the Assistant Medical Officer accordingly as it arrives from a
port where Plague, Yellow Fever or Cholera exists, so that the Sanitary
Inspector may know and act accordingly. He was also to make enquiries and
personal search in his district for the presence of dead rats.
The facts with regard to the rat plague were reported to the Port of
London Authority, and they were asked to :—
1. Destroy as many as possible of the rats in the docks : the same to
be disposed of by burning.
2. Daily search for dead rats : utilising, if possible, the same men
whose names and addresses were furnished to me, paying especial
attention to the warehouses, spaces between, and also the banks.
3. All accumulation of dunnage, rubbish, &c., to be collected and burnt.
4. The disposal of refuse on the banks to be discontinued and a
' destructor ' provided.
5. Ingress of rats to buildings should be. dealt with by having the
floors laid on concrete, and if buildings are not constructed of iron, a
piece of iron sheeting should be fitted round the lower part of the
building quite close to the concrete and extending into the ground for at
least two feet.
6. The primitive nature of the sanitary conveniences was again alluded
to, these being undermined with rat runs.
I had a conversation with the Dock Manager on the subject, and he assured
me the question of providing better sanitary conveniences was receiving the
special attention of the Authority.
At the same time he gave a copy of some draft Bye-laws which thev were
submitting for the sanction of the Board of Trade. These when sanctioned
will supplement and support the Port Sanitary Authority in dealing with the
passage of rats between the ships and the shore.
The Bye-laws are as follows :—
PORT OF LONDON AUTHORITY.
Bye-laws for the prevention of an outbreak of Plague amongst
rats in the Docks.
" 1. All rope and mooring tackle for securing any vessel, either to
" the shore or to mooring buoys, shall be fitted with such effective guards
" as will prevent access of rats from the vessel to the shore. For any
" breach of this Bye-law the master of the vessel shall be liable to a
" penalty not exceeding 5l.