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Your Committee made representations accordingly to the Local Government
Board, but the Board did not consider, on the evidence adduced, that the suggested
course would be justified. This is a matter for regret, as at present a loophole
undoubtedly exists by which Small-pox may be introduced into this country. During
the year, 19 cases were reported on vessels arriving, and 9 cases were removed to and
treated in the Port Sanitary Hospital.
The question of Plague amongst rats in the docks has continued to receive the
serious attention of your Committee, and a conference took place at the Local Government
Board between the representatives of the Board, the Port of London Authority,
and the Port Sanitary Authority, when suggestions were made for the better protection
of premises in the docks from invasion by rats, and for other precautionary measures
in connection therewith. Some interesting particulars were given of the measures
taken in San Francisco, with the cost of the same in dealing with an epidemic of
Plague, and the Medical Officer of Health pointed out the serious interference with
the trade of London should human Plague cases occur in London.
During the year, no less than 4,125 rats were examined on behalf of your
Committee, for evidence of plague bacillus, and 7 rats were found to be "infected."
The total number of cases of infectious disease reported and dealt with during the
year is much larger than usual, due to the notification of cases of tuberculosis under
the new Regulations—no less than 158 cases of tuberculosis of all kinds having been
notified during the year.
An outbreak of scarlet fever occurred on one of the Training Ships in the River in
September. Although 27 cases of the disease occurred, the outbreak did not assume the
character of an epidemic.
The sanitary condition of the crews' quarters on ships continues to receive careful
attention, and in the Medical Officer's Report comparisons have been drawn
between the existing provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act and projected regulations
on this subject by the Commonwealth Government of Australia and by the Norwegian
Government.
The subject of deaths of seamen from disease as shown by returns furnished by
the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen to the Board of Trade, is also dealt with,
and attention is drawn to the large proportion of deaths from diseases of the respiratory
system among this class of men.
The inspection of food is imposing upon your officers an increasing amount of
work and responsibility, the substance of which is set out in various tables attached to
this Report. The total approximate weight of goods destroyed during the year was
not less than 2,458 tons. In connection with this subject, the examination of various •
animal carcases and parts, from abroad, for the detection of the presence of lesions due
to disease or parasites, has occupied a great deal of attention, and actinomycosis in
ox-tongues has been the subject of careful consideration, and has been jointly reported
upon by the Medical Officers of Health of the City and of the Port, to your
Honourable Court. A fresh duty has arisen by the examination and certification
of meat exported to certain foreign countries.
Information is also given in the Report on the subject of the night population in
the Port of London as shown by the Census of 1911.