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The s.s. " Highland Rover," of London, Official Number 129,067, from
Buenos Ayres, arrived at Gravesend and reported a case of Small-pox on
board. The patient, a first-class passenger, was taken ill on the 23rd June,
and the rash appeared on the 24th. The patient was removed to the Port
Sanitary Hospital at Denton with his bedding and effects. The necessary
disinfection of the vessel was carried out, and the names and addresses of all
the passengers and those members of the crew who left the vessel in London
were notified to the medical officers of health of the districts to which they
were proceeding, and those remaining on board were kept under daily
observation while in London. Vaccination was offered to the passengers and
crew, and refused.
The s.s. "India," of Greenock, Official Number 105,572, from Bombay,
arrived at Gravesend on the 5th February, when the Master reported having
landed a case of Small-pox at Marseilles on the 29th January. The names
and addresses of all the passengers and members of the crew who left the
ship in London were taken and notified to the medical officers of health for
the districts to which they were proceeding.
The s.s. " Caledonia," of Greenock, Official Number 102,390, from Bombay,
arrived at Gravesend on the 18th March. On the 27th February, a first-class
passenger complained to the surgeon of feeling unwell ; he had been ailing for
one or two days before. On examination he was found to be suffering from
Small-pox, and was at once isolated, and landed at Aden on the 2nd March.
On the 13th March, one of the second saloon stewardesses complained to
the surgeon, and on the 14th a rash came out on the face and forehead. The
patient was isolated, and on arrival of the vessel at Gravesend the surgeon
reported the case as one of Chicken-pox. On examination by the Boarding
Medical Officer, the patient was found to be suffering from a very mild form
of Small-pox, and was removed to the Port Sanitary Hospital at Denton. I
saw the patient, and agreed that the case was one of Small-pox. It is always
difficult to diagnose very mild cases of Small-pox from Chicken-pox unless one
has had considerable experience, and it was with a view to detecting such
cases that Chicken-pox was made a notifiable disease by your Worshipful
Committee.
The infected quarters were disinfected, the names and addresses of all
persons landing in London were taken and notified to the medical officers of
health of the respective districts to which they were proceeding.
On the 19th February, I received information from the Medical Officer
of Health for Grays, Essex, that he had removed a case of Small-pox
to hospital from the barge " Whitwell," of London, 45,338, lying in
the River Thames off Grays. The patient was master of the barge
" Atlantic," of London, lying in Margate Harbour. The barge " Whitwell,"