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Royal Albert Dock at the end of 1916. On each of the dates, 5th, 16th, 19th October,
6th November, 1916, and the 15th January and 29th March, 1917, single rats were
discovered on examination to be plague-infected, but the two 1917 rats were found on
the south side of the Dock, and may have had no connection with the north side
outbreak, of which the circumstances are as follows :—
All the infected rats of 1916 were caught in the neighbourhood of a certain shed
which has since been taken down in the course of extensive improvements in hand on
the north side. The construction of this shed was such that it could afford extensive
harbourage for rats ; evidence of their presence in and about grain sweepings in the
shed was plentiful.
The shed was cleared of all edibles and other merchandise attractive to rats
except the grain sweepings alluded to, which were left in order that possible plague
rats might not be driven to fresh feeding grounds. The shed was thrown out of use.
Poison baits were regularly laid and taken up and traps set. A search was made for
the purpose of determining the extent in area of the epizootic, and, if necessary, a
campaign of extermination therein.
At first it appeared satisfactory that the poison baits were taken in progressively
diminishing numbers, but careful search in the banks and in the neighbourhood of the
shed failed to reveal any mortality arising from the poison or indeed from Plague. In
due course a cache of poison baits was found beneath the shed floor.
The traps were somewhat ineffective, as is natural when these are set in proximity
to foodstuffs.
A small hut adjacent, in constant use by dock men, was noticed to be over and
under run by rats ; its walls of wood were doubled and originally filled with sawdust—
primitive insulation affording, with the fire kept burning for cooking purposes in the
hut, comfort to both man and rodent.
A sick rat, which was subsequently found to be plague-infected, was killed within a
few feet of this shed on 6th November, 1916. On fumigating the shed with sulphur
dioxide and opening up the floor, a few rats in a state of putrefaction were found. The
shelter was again fumigated and put out of use. The close association of infected rats
and human beings which had probably existed here had been a dangerous condition,
but was unaccompanied by human Plague.
No infected rats have been found on the north side since November, 1916.
The origin of the infection is a matter for speculation. It is noticeable that
Japanese ships made extensive use of the wharf at this point. An infected rat may
have gained access to the shore from one of these or from some other ship from an
infected port using the same berth.
Your Inspector in this district, on closely examining the rat conditions in
connection with this outbreak, concludes that rats are not as numerous in the
Royal Albert Dock as formerly, and attributes the diminution to the system of rat
catching closely pursued by the Port of London Authority.
This diminution in numbers is more apparent on the south side of the Royal Albert
Dock. Here two rats, one in January and one in March, 1917, were found infected ;
these were caught in sheds far apart. A close watch and trapping has failed to disclose
an extensive or indeed any epizootic here.