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The two tugs, with their crews, were taken to Denton, where they were thoroughly
disinfected. Vaccination was offered to all the men, but it was refused. Their names
and addresses were notified to the Medical Officer of Health of the districts in which
they resided. No further cases occurred.
The s.s. "Gloucestershire," of Liverpool, 131,296, arrived in the Port on the 21st
April, 1911, when one of the crew—a Lascar named Yassan—was removed to Denton
Hospital suffering from Small-pox. The vessel came from Rangoon, and the patient is
stated not to have been on shore since leaving that place. The names and addresses of
the passengers were furnished, and were duly notified to the Medical Officers of Health
for the districts to which they were proceeding. The crew remained on board the
vessel, and were kept under observation.
The vessel proceeded to Liverpool, and the Medical Officer of Health for that port
was duly notified of the facts. All necessary disinfection of the vessel and effects was
carried out, also vaccination of the crew.
Amongst the passengers were a lady and gentleman who gave an address within
the City of London. They were allowed to land, but on enquiry at the address by
the Medical Officer of Health for the City of London, it was ascertained that it was an
address for the receipt of letters only, and the private address of the passengers was
refused.
The vessel came from a Plague-infected port, and the Regulations of the Local
Government Board, dated September 9th, 1907, as to Cholera, Yellow Fever, and
Plague Ships arriving from Foreign Ports, Article XXVI. provide that :—
"The Master of a ship, or any other person, shall answer truly all such
"questions put to him by, and give all such information to, any Officer of
"Customs or Medical Officer of Health as are necessary for any purpose of this
"Order; and a person who is required in pursuance of this Order to give to the
"Medical Officer of Health or to notify to any Local Authority the name and
"intended place of destination and the address of the said person shall not
"knowingly give or notify a false or fictitious name, place of destination or
"address, and shall not refuse or neglect to give or notify as aforesaid the true
"name, intended place of destination and address of the said person.
In this case the passengers failed to comply with Article XXVI. of the Regulations,
as the address given was not such as is required by the Regulations. I recommended
that the facts be reported to Mr. Solicitor for such action as he might deem desirable.
On April 12, I received a telephone message that there was a Lascar in the
Royal Albert Dock, who was ailing and had developed a rash. I at once proceeded
to the dock, and the case being Small-pox, I ordered the removal of the patient to
Denton Hospital. All contacts were vaccinated and are being kept under observation.
It was ascertained that the patient formed one of the crew of a troop ship, and had
come from Southampton to the Royal Albert Dock by rail. A suspicious case of
Small-pox was found on the vessel on arrival at Southampton. No further case
occurred amongst the contacts.
The s.s. "Egypt," of Greenock, 105,881, arrived at Gravesend on the 9th June,
1911, from Bombay, having landed a case of Small-pox at Plymouth. Vaccination was
offered to all the crew, and performed in the case of those accepting. The names
and addresses of all the passengers were taken, and notified to the various Medical
Officers of Health.