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a dead rat was found behind the woodwork of the cabin. Two days later another dead
rat was found in the same place. Portions of the rats had been preserved by the
ship's surgeon. These were forwarded to the London School of Tropical Medicine for
examination, and Dr. Newham reported as follows :—
" I have cut sections of the rats' organs submitted to me, but careful
search has failed to reveal the presence of any evidence of Plague."
In view of the suspicion, precautions were adopted in the case of this vessel, but no
evidences of a rat plague infection were found.
Plague-infected ships are rare arrivals in the Thames- It is significant that two
outbreaks in quick succession should have appeared, both in ships in which partial
fumigation had been carried out. ♦
If, as I believe, there is a direct connection between these partial fumigations
and the human outbreaks, two points of great importance arise.
First—The ship's structure and possible paths of communication for rats should
be closely investigated in connection with any partial fumigation of a ship, and the
necessary precaution against invasion of living quarters by possibly infected rats
arranged for.
No fumigation of holds should be attempted without simultaneous fumigation of
living quarters to which a rat-path exists.
Secondly—Had the human cases not occurred, would the rat infection on the ships
have been disclosed at the moment for most effective action ?
In practice the present safeguard against the landing of infected rats is the power
of Port Sanitary Authorities to put questions and make examinations concerning rat
mortality or sick rats. The time for putting the questions is necessarily protracted over
the whole period from the ship's arrival to completion of discharge of cargo. In the
absence of repetition of the questions from day to day a discovery of importance may
not be disclosed at the proper time for effective action, if at all.
As an additional safeguard against the landing of infected rats from vessels
arriving from plague-infected ports, it is desirable that the duty of immediate
notification of sick or dead rats found on board and of knowing the state of the ship
with regard to rats both on the voyage and after arrival in Port, be imposed on owners,
officers and other persons in charge of vessels, as part of the Orders of the Local
Government Board relating to Plague.
Your Medical Officer recommended that the two considerations detailed above be
formally brought to the notice of the Local Government Board. This was done
in due course.
The routine examination of rats found dead and trapped alive throughout the
Port Sanitary District has been maintained systematically.
Dr. IL B. Newham, at the London School of Tropical Medicine, made the
necessary macroscopic and microscopic examinations up to the end of November, at
which time he went on Military Service. Dr. Cockin is continuing the work in
his absence.
Plague was found in two rats, the last discovery being in March. This is
possibly the termination of a small outbreak which occurred on the north side of the