London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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TABLE IX.
(Cholera.)
| Date. | Name of Vessel, Port of Registry, and Official Number. | Where from. | No of Cases. | How dealt with. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913. Jan. 20 | s.s. " Malta," of Greenock, 102,398 | Calcutta | 3 | Landed at Calcutta. |
| Nov. 5 | s.s. " Euphorbia," of N. Shields, 117,972 | Braila | 14 | Landed at Braila. Six cases fatal. |
| „ 15 | s.s. "Faraday," of London; 68,535 | Batavia | 1 | Died, and body buried at Batavia. |
| „ 20 | s.s. " Statesman," of Liverpool, 105,319 | Calcutta | 1 | Died, and body buried at sea. |
| Total | 19 |
CHOLERA.
The s.s. "Malta," of Greenock, 102,398, arrived at Gravesend on the 20th January,
1913, from Calcutta, having landed three cases of Cholera (one of which proved fatal)
and three cases of acute Diarrhoea there on the 16th December, 1912. The cases had
been ashore daily at Calcutta, and infection had been contracted there. Complete
disinfection was carried out at Calcutta, and the water tanks were emptied and cleansed
with Condy's fluid, and subsequently refilled. No other cases occurred, and on arrival
at Gravesend all on board were found to be well.
On the 10th October I received information that an outbreak of Asiatic Cholera
had occurred on board the s.s. "Euphorbia" at Braila. The vessel left there on the
3rd October for London.
The vessel arrived on the 2nd November, from Braila, having had 14 cases of
Asiatic Cholera on board, 6 of which proved fatal. The vessel and effects were
disinfected at that port. I am informed that one drinking water tank was filled with
river water from alongside the ship at Braila, for the use of the Native crew. This
was discontinued after sickness broke out among the Natives, and the tank was emptied
and cleaned, fresh water then being taken from on shore. A sample of drinking water
was taken from this vessel, and examined bacteriologically, but the result proved
" negative " as regards the presence of bacilli.
The vessel was carefully inspected on arrival at Gravesend, and all on board were
found to be well.
The cable ship "Faraday," of London, 68,536, arrived at Gravesend on the
15th November, from Batavia. On the 6th July a fireman was taken ill, and died on
the 8th July, the body being landed at Batavia. The vessel and effects were disinfected
at that port. No further cases occurred, and on arrival at Gravesend all on board were
found to be well.
The s.s. "Statesman," of Liverpool, 105,319, arrived on the 20th November from
Calcutta. On the 30th October a native trimmer was taken ill. He gradually became
worse, and died on the 2nd November, the body being buried at sea. The water tanks
were disinfected at Suez on the 7th November, and a fresh supply taken in. The
quarters were disinfected, together with effects. No fresh cases occurred, and on arrival
at Gravesend all on board were found to be well.