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29
The powers possessed by the Port of London Sanitary Authority to destroy
rats within their district are :—
" (1) On ships under the Regulations as to Cholera, Yellow Fever
" and Plague, dated 9th September, 1907 ; and
" (2) On shore premises under the Order of the Local Government
" Board, dated November 10th, 1910."
(1) On ships. A ship "infected" with Plague is where a case of Plague
has occurred on board a vessel within seven days of arrival.
A " suspected " ship is where Plague has occurred on board either in the
port of departure or during the voyage, but not within seven days of arrival.
" Article XXIII.—The master of a ship certified to be an "infected"
" ship by reason of Plague, shall under the direction and to the satis"
faction of the Medical Officer of Health, and at and within such time
" as the Medical Officer of Health, by requisition in writing addressed to
" the master, prescribes, employ suitable means for the effectual
" destruction of rats in the ship."
The master of a ship certified to be a "suspected" ship by reason of
Plague shall, if the Medical Officer of Health makes requisition to that effect,
employ by and under the direction and to the satisfaction of the Medical
Officer of Health, and at and within such time as the Medical Officer of
Health by his requisition prescribes, suitable means for the effectual destruction
of rats in the ship.
" Article XXIY.—Where the Medical Officer of Health certifies
" in writing that a rat in the ship is infected with Plague, the master of
" the ship shall employ suitable means for the effectual destruction of the
" rats in the ship."
Where the Medical Officer of Health is satisfied, and certifies in writing,
that as a precaution against the introduction or threaten of Plague, the master
of a ship, which though not infected or suspected by reason of Plague, has
come from or has during the voyage called at a port infected with Plague, shall
at such time as the Medical Officer of Health by his certificate prescribes,
employ suitable means for the effectual destruction of rats in the ship.
The cost of destroying rats on board an "infected " or " suspected" ship,
and where rats are found on board infected with Plague, is to be borne by the
master of the ship.
In the third instance where the ship is not "infected" or "suspected " but
has only come from a Plague-infected port, the expenses have to be paid by
th 2 Port of London Sanitary Authority.