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9
MEDICAL INSPECTION—GRAVESEND.*
The total number of vessels medically inspected during the year was 2,744, which
approximates very closely to the mean annual number for the past ten years.
This medical inspection involved the examination of passengers and crews to
the total number o£ 73,726.
The total number of vessels arriving from "foreign" ports, at Gravesend, was
9,543, a number which is somewhat lower than that for the four preceding years, and
below the average for the preceding ten years.
The total number of vessels medically inspected at Gravesend since the inauguration
of medical inspection in 1892 is 43,046.
The Russian steamship "Maimaxa," of Archangel, arrived from Riga on the 6th
December, 1910, and was visited by the Assistant Medical Officer, on the Customs launch,
in Gravesend Reach. The master was informed that the medical officer would require
to inspect all persons on board. The master, however, proceeded with the vessel, took
his pilot on board, and went to the Millwall Dock. On arrival there, not having been
granted " pratique," the vessel was sent back to Gravesend, where the crew were
inspected, and the certificate of pratique was issued.
A breach of the regulations had occurred, but the additional cost incurred in
bringing the vessel from the Millwall Dock to Gravesend and back, as well as the
inconvenience, was—in my opinion—ample punishment on this occasion. The Port
Sanitary Committee agreed, and did not think it necessary to institute legal proceedings
against the master.
MEDICAL INSPECTION—SHEERNESS.
The total number of vessels visited by your Assistant Medical Officer (Dr. E. Y.
Legge) stationed at Sheerness during the year was 259 of a total of 292 foreign arrivals.
In those cases where a vessel cannot be reached in time to inspect at Sheerness, a
telegram is sent to Rochester, and the vessel is examined there.
The number of passengers and crews carried by the vessels examined was 3,651.
The total number of vessels medically inspected at Sheerness since a medical
officer was stationed there in 1894, is 5,067.
The arrangements for boarding vessels arriving from foreign ports have for many
years past been carried out by His Majesty's Coastguard, for whom a room was provided
in Garrison Point Fort, and a look-out was kept from the top of the fort. The arrangements
for boarding vessels have now been taken over by His Majesty's Customs, and the
Military Officer Commanding at Sheerness did not approve of anyone unconnected with
armaments entering Garrison Point Fort. I arranged for the telephone to be removed
from the interior of the fort and placed outside in a convenient position. His Majesty's
Customs have placed a steam launch on the station, and communication with Dr. Legge
is, for the present, made from the temporary telephone situated near the Gun Wharf.
Negotiations are being made by His Majesty's Customs with a view to obtaining a
piece of ground in a suitable position where a watch-house can be built, and from which
a look-out can be kept. When this has been done the telephone will be moved there,
and Dr. Legge will be summoned when required. In accordance with the Local
Government Board regulations, the Customs' Officers will detain any vessel arriving
from a port infected with Plague, Yellow Fever or Cholera, but they are unable to do
this in the event of vessels arriving from other ports. I am pleased, however, to report
that the medical inspection of vessels passing through the Port of London for the Port
of Rochester, has been carried out quite as efficiently as heretofore.
* See also Staff—Medical Officers—page 71.