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 1916
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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Certain re-arrangements in the duties of Boarding Medical Officers have been
necessary in the absence of one of these on military service, and in view of the vacancy
created by the advancement of your Medical Officer from the post of Deputy.
One of three launches has been continuously laid up owing to the enlistment for
military service of the crew of four men.
The clerical staff is substituted by female clerks to the extent of two out of five.
Possible loss of efficiency due to these reductions and substitutions has been
largely compensated by the willing manner in which extra duties have been assumed
throughout the whole staff.
TABLE I.
MEDICAL INSPECTION—GRAVESEND. From 1st January to 31st December, 1916.
| Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of foreign arrivals | 364 | 669 | 556 | 569 | 758 | 675 | 712 | 653 | 624 | 573 | 519 | 526 | 7,398 |
| Number medically inspected | 139 | 177 | 125 | 151 | 144 | 126 | 145 | 131 | 125 | 122 | 114 | 122 | 1,621 |
| Number of passengers | 2,344 | 2,420 | 1,689 | 1,737 | 2,809 | 5,252 | 1,064 | 794 | 1,175 | 836 | 673 | 1,307 | 22,100 |
| Number of crew ... | 6,211 | 5,634 | 5,327 | 7,326 | 7,813 | 1,086 | 6,560 | 6,719 | 7,134 | 5,545 | 3,888 | 6,010 | 69,253 |
MEDICAL INSPECTION.
The arrangements for medical inspection of foreign arrivals have been modified in
view of the closure of the Medway to ordinary traffic. Dr. E. V. Legge, who formerly
carried out these duties, has been transferred to Gravesend, where he fills the vacancy
caused by the absence on military duties of your Deputy Medical Officer of Health,
Lieut.-Col. J. S.Warrack, and is available for service at Sheerness should occasion arise.
The number of vessels medically inspected Gravesend (see Table I.) was 1,621,
or 21.9 per cent. of the total arrivals. The total number of passengers and crews
carried by the vessels inspected was 91,353. The total number of cases of infectious
disease discovered and removed to Denton Hospital for treatment was 53 (see
Table II.).