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Under the Cholera, Yellow Fever and Plague Regulations it is for His Majesty's
Customs to appoint a place of examination for ships from infected coastlines, and for
the Port Sanitary Authority in conjunction with His Majesty's Customs, a place where
ships found, on Medical examination, to be infected may be dealt with. It is of
importance in administration that these should coincide, and should be at the point
which the evolution of the details of examination in past years has indicated as suitable,
having regard to the convenience of all parties concerned in quarantine measures.
The point has now been fixed as the " Gravesend Reach, from the Lobster Roads
to Shorne Mead Beacon."
'22nd December, 1919.
The Inspector-General of Waterguard,
H.M. Customs,
Custom House, Lower Thames Street, E.G. 3.
Dear Sir,
In accordance with our telephonic conversation of this morning, I enclose a list of the
coast lines of which the ports are " infected " for the purposes of the Cholera, Yellow Fever
and Plague Regulations, 1907, as regards the work of the Port Sanitary Authority.
I should like to take this opportunity of fixing, in agreement with you, a place of mooring
in conformity with Part III. Art. VI. of the Regulations, and also to suggest, if I may, that the
reach from the Lobster Roads to the Shorne Mead Beacon Light being agreed upon under
Art. VI. might also be a place selected by you under Art. II. 2, Part II., as being convenient
to this Authority for rapid examination and administration efficiency.
Since in the current year no less than three ships have been found by the Port Sanitary
Authority to be in fact " infected " -(two) or " suspected " (one) of Plague, I view with
considerable anxiety the practice which—originating during the War is continuing and growing
under post-war conditions—of the landing of uninspected passengers or crews from ships out of
infected ports at Southend.
Thanking you for your kind communication on the subject,
I am, Dear Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) W. M. WILLOUGHBY,
Medical Officer of Health,
Port of London.
Custom House, London, E.C.
24th December, 1919.
Dear Sir,
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2'2nd instant, addressed to the
Inspector-General of the Waterguard, enclosing a list of the coast lines of which the ports are
infected " for the purposes of the Cholera, Yellow Fever and Plague Regulations, 1907, and
I shall be glad if you will advise me of any further corrections.
I agree that the place of mooring in conformity with Part III. Art. VI. of the Regulations
shall be Gravesend Reach from the Lobster Roads to Shorne Mead Beacon Light, and also that
the same place shall be selected by the Customs Officers under Art. II. 2, Part II.,as being
convenient to all parties for rapid examination and administrative efficiency.
I am sending a copy of this correspondence to the Chief Preventive Officer at Gravesend
for his information and guidance.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) J. A. HAWKINS,
Waterguard Superintendent.
The Medical Officer,
Port of London Sanitary Authority.