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A few general remarks on the Staff will be found on page 82.
The Authority has suffered the loss, by death, during the year, of their senior
Sanitary Inspector, W. G. Romeril. His loss is a matter for regret, as he was an
intelligent, loyal, reliable and capable officer, and had been in the service since 1892.
MEDICAL INSPECTION.
The total number of vessels arriving at Gravesend from foreign ports was 9,727,
the greatest number since 1906, the average for the past ten years being 9,679.
Of these 1,948, an average of 5.6 per day, required medical inspection as coming from
"infected" ports. At Sheerness, of 324 arrivals from foreign, 268 were medically
inspected. The total number of cases of infectious disease reported on vessels was 447,
including 151 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis. Of the cases reported, 91 or 20.3 per
cent. were removed to the Port Sanitary Hospital for treatment. Short notes of these
cases appear under the headings of infectious disease.
SHEERNESS BOARDING STATION.
Dr. Legge is the only officer of the Authority residing at Sheerness, and was
originally appointed for the duty of boarding and inspecting vessels arriving from
foreign. The majority of these vessels are bound for the port of Rochester, but as the
entrance to that port is through the Port of London, the onus of such inspection rests
upon the Port of London Sanitary Authority, and the Port of Rochester Authority
contributes annually a sum of 100/. towards the expenses of such inspection and the
maintenance and treatment in hospital of any persons found on vessels bound for
the Port of Rochester suffering from a dangerous infectious disorder, who would be
removed at Sheerness and conveyed to the Port of London Sanitary Hospital at Denton.
Dr. Legge is therefore constantly on duty, and no arrangements have been made for his
occasional relief ; he is liable to be called out at any hour of the day or night on week
days, Sundays, and on holidays, whilst he has had to be in attendance at Queenborough
on at least four nights a week from 6-10 p.m. examining meat. As it was found
necessary to make arrangements for the examination of meat on every night in the week,
and it was not possible to ask for this service from Dr. Legge, arrangements have been
made for him to be relieved on two nights during the week by one of the assistant
Medical Officers from Gravesend, whilst Dr. Legge is responsible for the examination
on the other five nights.
Under the heading of Food Inspection, some details are given of the results of this
work at Sheerness. (Page 44.)
It is now in contemplation to put into force at Queenborough, the examination of
Alien Immigrants, which will mean additional work for Dr. Legge and the Assistant
Medical Officers.