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18
The s.s. "Werdenfels" arrived from Alexandria on the 9th May, 1915, when a
case of Small-pox was removed therefrom to Denton Hospital.
The patient, a fireman, complained to the master on the 26th April of headache
and " malaria," and constipation of three days' duration. Spots were on his face at
time of complaint, temperature 103'5 degrees. On the 27th April, his temperature was
normal, and he resumed duty. He was not logged as being ill. On the 30th April, he
was seen by a doctor at Algiers, who said state was one of " bad blood." The master
does not appear to have been aware of the nature of the illness, and therefore the case
was not reported on arrival, but was discovered in the ordinary course of medical
inspection at Gravesend.
The whole of the crew of 56 persons were re-vaccinated, and the vessel and effects
thoroughly disinfected.
As the vessel had come from a port at which plague existed, the crew were only
allowed to leave the vessel on furnishing satisfactory addresses, which were taken and
notified to the various Medical Officers of Health.
On the 16th May, information was received from the Medical Officer of Health for
Bristol, that the cook of the vessel, whose name and address had been notified, sickened
on arrival at Bristol, and was removed to hospital suffering from haemorrhagie Small-pox.
Another of the crew was removed to hospital at Stepney, suffering from this
disease, on the 17th May.
The s.s. "City of York," of Glasgow, 119,100, arrived from Calcutta on the 26th
May, and reported having landed a case of Small-pox at Colombo on the 1st May.
The vessel and effects were disinfected, and the crew vaccinated.
The s.s. "Novaro,"of Greenock, 131,860, arrived from Bombay on the 27th May,
and reported having landed a case of Small-pox at Karachi on the 30th April. The
vessel and effects were disinfected, and vaccination was carried out where necessary.
The s.s. " Khiva," of Liverpool, 135,533, arrived from Calcutta on the 6th June, and
reported having lauded a case of Small-pox at Aden on the 14th May. The vessel and
effects were thoroughly disinfected, and vaccination carried out where necessary.
The s.s. " Huntsman," of Liverpool, 118,103, arrived from Calcutta on the 8th June,
having landed a case of Small-pox at Suez on the 23rd May. The vessel and effects
had been disinfected, and the crew vaccinated.
The s.s. " Helenus," of Liverpool, 135,519, arrived from Yokohama on the
8th June, having landed a case of Small-pox at Colombo on the 13th May. The
ship's hospital was disinfected, and effects taken ashore with patient. The bedding
was destroyed. All persons on board were re-vaccinated at Colombo.
The s.s. " Wartenfels " arrived from Calcutta on the 16th June, having landed
a case of Small-pox at Colombo on the 13th May. The vessel was disinfected, and the
crew vaccinated. Bedding and effects were taken ashore with patient.
The s.s. "Arabia," of Greenock, 105,587, arrived at Gravesend on the 6th July
from Bombay, and reported having landed a case of Small-pox at Port Said on the
22nd June. The vessel and effects were disinfected. No further case occurred.