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No further cases occurred, and on arrival at Gravesend all on board were found to
be in good health.
The s.s. " Gaea " (Norwegian) arrived on the 24th March from Gandia, when it
was found that one of the crew was suffering from fever and headache. Although no
rash was present the symptoms were so suspicious of Small-pox that the patient was
landed at Denton Hospital. On the 25th the eruption came out, and the case was
definitely diagnosed as one of Small-pox. The ship was fumigated and disinfected, and
the names and addresses of all possible contacts were notified to the respective Medical
Officers of Health. The ship left for Swansea on the 26th, and the Medical Officer of
Health for that port was notified accordingly.
The s.s. " Brightwings," of London, 125,786, arrived on 12th April from
Busreh, having landed a case of Small-pox at that place on the 25th February. The
quarters were disinfected there, and the crew vaccinated. No other cases occurred, and
all were in good health on arrival at Gravesend.
The s.s. "Ancona," of London, 95,205, arrived from Gibraltar on the 4th June,
when it was ascertained that a man had been landed at Lisbon with a rash on face and
body. The diagnosis was unknown, but was said to have been suspicious of Small-pox.
All on board appeared to be well on arrival, and the vessel has been kept under
daily observation during her stay in port.
The names and addresses of all persons leaving the ship were notified to the
respective Medical Officers of Health.
The vessel left for Lisbon on the 14th June.
The s.s. " Batavia II., of Rotterdam, arrived on the 7th August, from Rotterdam.
In the course of examination of the alien passengers on board, it was noticed that
a 2nd class passenger had spots on her face, which was very suspicious of her having
suffered recently with Small-pox.
The history of the case was that—
She was taken ill four weeks previously with pains " all over her body,''
accompanied with shivering and vomiting. Four days later spots came out (chiefly on
the face, hands and arms). She had been " out and about" in Holland for the past
fourteen days, and the nature of the disease had not been diagnosed.
The case was removed to Denton Hospital, and there was no doubt that she had
had Small-pox recently. After thorough disinfection, together with all clothes, she
was released.
The ladies' cabins were thoroughly disinfected, and all infected bedding, &c.,
similarly treated.
The patient was only discovered at the last moment, after the majority of the
passengers were on the tender on their way to the shore, but no powers are possessed
to delay the ship or even to take the names and addresses of the passengers in the case
of small-pox.