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17
The first case arose on the 14th July, and nine cases had occurred before the
28th July. On the 22nd July the forecastle was cleaned out, and the crew camped on
deck. On the 25th July a sulphur fumigation of the crew's quarters by the ship's
surgeon cleared most of the infection from the forecastle, where ten dead rats had been
found on the 22nd. One dead rat was found in the native store room situated in the
fore peak and reached only by a trap door in the floor of the starboard forecastle. The
native crew states that other dead rats had been found and thrown overboard since
leaving Delagoa Bay. One dead rat was found in a bundle of clothing belonging to a
native who was dead of Plague. This rat had probably crept there to die.
A rat infection may be assumed to have existed on the ship and to have originated
in Bombay.
At Delagoa Bay, where the ship arrived on 26th June, a fumigation of Nos. 1 and 2
holds was made. The first human case occurred on 14th July. At Delagoa Bay the
hatches were lifted to discharge cargo. Infected rats would there have an opportunity
of reaching the forecastle, and may even have been evicted by the fumigation of the
holds and have taken up quarters in the forecastle.
The fumigation of the holds without simultaneous fumigation of the living
quarters is certainly a possible cause of dispersal of the rats and conveyance of their
disease to the crew. Of 77 rats found dead in the holds during discharge of cargo at
Gravesend, No. 1 hold gave five, No. 2 nine, No. 3 thirty-four, and No. 4 twenty-nine.
The fewness of the rats in Nos. 1 and 2 holds compared with the numbers in
Nos. 3 and 4 supports the theory of eviction by the fumigation.
In the infection on s.s. " Sardinia " there is a parallel history of partial fumigation
followed by the human disease in the forecastle which raised a similar suspicion.
The " Matiana" was detained in Gravesend Reach. Passengers and all ship
workers were kept under " surveillance " and the crew under " observation."
The cargo was discharged into lighters under precautions against the transfer of
rats and infection of ship workers. A preliminary disinfection of crew's quarters and
effects was made, and, when discharge of the cargo was completed, a fumigation of the
whole ship for the destruction of rats and fleas was carried out before release of the ship
from the mooring grounds.
The complete rat history of the ship is as follows :—
On voyage—42 trapped ; 12 dead found.
At Gravesend before fumigation—2 trapped on board at Gravesend;
77 dead found.
After fumigation—3 dead found in baker's shop ; 10 dead reported by
Chief Officer.
The majority of the rats examined at Gravesend were of the species Mus Rattus
(Black Rat), and three Mus Decumanus (Brown Rat).
No further cases arose on or from this ship.
A vessel arrived on the 23rd July, 1917, when it was ascertained that shortly after
leaving Gibraltar a bad smell was noticed in the Surgeon's Room. On investigation,