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22
The s.s. "Galician," of Southampton, 113,334, arrived from East London on the
28th May, 1914. On the 29th I received information that a child, travelling with
mother and another child, were landed at Southampton and proceeded to an address in
Whitechapel, where the child was found to be suffering from Scarlet Fever. The child
is reported to have been taken ill on the 11th May. No mention was made of any such
case on arrival of the vessel at Gravesend. I therefore communicated with the owners
of the vessel, asking for an explanation, and they replied as follows:—
"4th June, 1914.
"Sir,
"s.s. 'Galician.'
"In reply to your letter of yesterday, we have to inform you that a male
child of Mrs. D. came under the treatment of the surgeon of this steamer on 12th
May, the entry in the day book stating that he was suffering from sickness and
pyrexia. On the 13th and 14th the child appears to have been very unwell.
On the latter day with a temperature of 102 he was placed in the ship's hospital.
On the 15th and 16th the patient was somewhat better, the morning temperature
on the latter date being 100.4 and the evening temperature 101.2. On the
morning of the 17th May the temperature was normal and it remained so until
arrival at Southampton on the 27th ultimo.
"Your obedient Servants,
".............................."
It would therefore appear that the case was not diagnosed before arrival.