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20. Any person contravening any of the regulations relating to quarantine
surveillance, shall be liable to the penalty fixed generally for any breach of these
regulations, and shall also forfeit all the privileges and advantages of release under
quarantine surveillance, and may be removed by any constable or authorised person
to a quarantine station.
It would be difficult to enforce such strict regulations in this country, and they
certainly would interfere with our maritime commerce. There are two things necessary
for an explosion.
(a) An accumulation of explosive material.
(b) An agent, such as fire, which, when brought into contact with such
explosive material, will cause it to explode.
There is a growing accumulation of "explosive material" in this country in the shape
of persons who are insufficiently protected by vaccination against Small-pox, and when
this has increased it will only need the introduction of the infection to cause an epidemic
of Small-pox. In my opinion, powers are desirable for compelling possible contacts with
Small-pox to give their names and addresses, so that after landing they may be found
and kept under reasonable medical supervision.
The s.s. "Persia," of Greenock, from Bombay, arrived at Gravesend on the 3rd
September, and reported a case of Small-pox on board. The patient was taken ill on the
30th August, and the rash appeared on the 2nd September. He was removed to the
Denton Hospital. All necessary disinfection was carried out. The whole of the crew
had recently been vaccinated. No further cases occurred.
The s.s. "Araby," of Liverpool, from La Plata, arrived at Gravesend on the 4th
September, and reported one of the crew, a carpenter, to be suffering from Chicken-pox.
An examination of the patient by the Boarding Medical Officer, proved him to be
suffering from Small-pox, and he was accordingly removed to the Denton Hospital. All
necessary disinfection was carried out. Vaccination was offered to the crew and refused.
The names and addresses of the passengers were notified to the Medical Officer of Health
of the districts to which they were proceeding.
The s.s. "City of Calcutta," of Glasgow, 115,759, arrived at Gravesend on the
20th March, 1911. A passenger who had embarked at Madras on the 20th February—
ailed on the 5th March, and was diagnosed as suffering from Small-pox. He was landed
at Port Said on the 7th March, where I am informed he subsequently died. Some of
his effects were on board the vessel on arrival, and they were removed to Denton
Hospital for disinfection.
All persons on board were found free from the disease, and were subsequently kept
under observation. No illness of a suspicious nature has since occurred, and the vessel
sailed for Glasgow, the Medical Officer of Health for that Port being duly informed of
the facts.
The engineer of the steam tug "Diligence," of London, 123,848, was removed
from his home at Purfleet on March 20th, 1911, suffering from Small-pox. He had
been at work from March 7th to the 17th on board the tug "Jane," of London, 68,400,
on which date he returned on board the "Diligence," but not feeling well, he returned
to his home, where, on the 20th, a rash appeared. He was seen by a doctor, and the
complaint was diagnosed as Small-pox.