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 1918
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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Influenza and Pneumonia— continued.
| Date. | Name of Vessel, Port of Registry and Official No. | Where from. | No. of Gases. | How dealt with. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1918. | Brought | forward | 674 | |
| Oct. 26 | s.s. "Cufic" | Buenos Ayres | 1 | Died on board. |
| „ 27 | s.s. "Jason" | Montreal | 5 | Treated on board. |
| ., 29 | s.s. "Ruahine" | Wellington | 252 | Military cases (1 death). |
| „ 30 | s.s. "British Ensign" | Thameshaveu | 1 | Died on board. |
| „ 30 | s.s. "Orita" | Quebec | 1 | Removed to Port Sanitary Hospital. |
| „ 30 | s.s. "Japan" | Bombay | 1 | Died on board. |
| Nov. 2 | s.s. "Fanad Head" | Montreal | 1 | Removed to Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich. |
| „ 7 | s.s. "Corinthian" | Ditto | 14 | Treated on board (3 deaths). |
| „ 25 | s.s. "Barambah" | Melbourne | 1,062 | Military cases (1(5 deaths). |
| „ 25 | s.s. "Dunedin" | Lavrion Bay | 25 | Treated on board (3 deaths). |
| Dec. 11 | s.s. "Clan Macdonald" | Montreal | 71 | Treated onboard (31 deaths). |
| 2,108 | ||||
| Influenza | 2,096 cases. | |||
| Pneumonia | 12 „ | |||
| 2,108 cases. | ||||
INFLUENZA.
Influenza on inward bound vessels was at no time a marked feature of the Influenza
epidemic in the Thames. From the middle of the year, the customary history of
Influenza outbreaks among crews on ships was an epidemic after arrival, and infection
was brought to the ships from the shore. The conditions in a ship's forecastle are just
such as would quickly cause the illness, once introduced, to become epidemic, and the
natives of India suffered severely.
A few cases were admitted to Denton Hospital from inward bound ships, but more
were received into Gravesend Military Hospital by arrangement with the War Office
through the Local Government Board.
Transports—or rather the cargo ships which had brought troops and had landed
them elsewhere—came on to London to discharge cargo, and are responsible for the large
numbers (mostly military cases already landed) appearing in the Table. Large numbers
of cases, of which there is no record, occurred in the Port under circumstances stated
above, with which the organisation of the Port Sanitary Authority -could not deal in
any way.
The Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich, did very great service in dealing with bad
cases, and the Gravesend Military Hospital relieved difficult shipping situations on
many occasions. Major Skinner, R.A.M.C., of the Army Medical Transport Service at
Gravesend, gave most cordial and effective help in this.