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SMALL-POX.
In May, two vessels, s.s. "Stork" and s.s. "Cantabria," arriving from Naples
and Oporto respectively, landed cases of Small-pox in London, although both vessels
had passed, under examination at Gravesend, as "All well." At the onset of the
case from each ship, the diagnosis was made with sufficient promptness, and the
precautions taken were such as to prevent any spread. But the fact that vessels arrive
from foreign ports within a period of time equal to or less than that of incubation of a
disease, constitutes a danger which cannot be completely met by any system of
examination on entry of the vessel. The above instances are cases in point.
The s.s. "Culna" left Bombay 26th March, and arrived at Gravesend
April 23rd.
After leaving Plymouth on the 22nd April, three natives reported sick, and were .
found to have rashes of probable Small-pox.
On full examination of the crew, another case of suspicious rash was discovered.
At Gravesend, on 23rd April, the four cases, together with a contact who had
Fever and another case found to have a commencing rash were removed to Denton
Hospital. Cases 1, 2, 3 and 6 proved to be Small-pox—three severe.
Case 4 was found to be Chicken-pox—a matter of close diagnosis in the face of
concomitant Small-pox cases.
Case 5 developed no rash and all symptoms subsided.
There were 356 natives on the ship—87 of the "Culna" crew and 269 of
passenger crews. These were all vaccinated at Gravesend and taken ashore for disinfection,
and all the native quarters were fumigated and washed down.
The ship proceeded to dock on the same night.
A further case of Small-pox occurred on the 28th April, and was removed to
Denton Hospital The crew were under observation.
Of the European crew of 22 persons, ten were not revaccinated, these having
undergone the operation within the previous twelve months.
One white passenger was vaccinated, and was under surveillance by notification.
The source of infection was possibly Port Said, at which place Arabs were on
board during twelve hours of bunkering on the 7th April (fourteen days before the
date of commencing rash).
At Plymouth 569 troops were landed. The troops came on board at Bombay.
The Local Government Board, the Port Medical Officer, Plymouth, and the War Office,
received immediate notification of the conditions found on the ship on arrival at
Gravesend.
At this time there was Epidemic Chicken-pox in Bombay; cases of this disease
had recently occurred amongst crews arriving in the Port of London with some
frequency. Small-pox and Chicken-pox have before occurred together on one ship
during the voyage, but the cases had been landed before arrival in the Port of London.