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The Rat Order of the Ministry of Food, now replaced by the Rats and Mice
Destruction Act, was amended to include Port Sanitary Authorities as Local
Authorities," and proved useful in the control of rat-infested ships.
Small-pox was a serious menace, as is shown in the tables and comments thereon.
An outbreak of Para-Enteric Fever occurred on one of the Training Ships in the
Port, the cases being treated by arrangement in Denton Hospital.
The contribution of the Corporation to the Venereal Diseases Treatment Centre
in the County Borough of West Ham was increased at the beginning of the year to
£400 per annum.
The Public Health (Pneumonia, Malaria, Dysentery, &c.) Regulations, 1919,
came into force on the 1st March, extending the list of infectious diseases which are
compulsorily notifiable and imposing new duties upon the Port Sanitary Authority and
its Officers.
The place of mooring for "infected ships" entering the Port has now been fixed
by arrangement with H.M. Customs at "Gravesend Reach from the Lobster Roads to
Shornmead Beacon."
The examination of rats for the detection of Plague was continued, one infected rat
only being found in January, and your Committee approved the issue by your Medical
Officer of Health of a special questionaire to Port Medical Officers of the United
Kingdom, with a view to inducing some uniformity of practice in rat disinfestations, &c.
The inspection of Food and of Nuisances throughout the Port was carried out in a
satisfactory manner.
Members of a Special Committee appointed by the Secretary of State for India
and delegates to the Polish and Norwegian Legations respectively were received and
informed by your Medical Officer of Health on various points relating to Port Sanitary
Administration.
The Launch "Lady Truscott" proved unreliable owing to defects which developed
in the water-tube boiler. Re-tubing of the boiler was necessary, and with this repair it
was decided to improve the steaming qualities by substitution of oil fuel for coal. The
work was put in hand at an estimated cost of £2,000.
An Account of Receipts and Expenditure in connection with the Port of London
Sanitary Authority for the year ended the 31st March, 1920, is appended, in accordance
with the Order of your Honourable Court, for the information of the Court.
All which we submit to the judgment of this Honourable Court. Dated this
fourteenth day of December, 1920.
W. Fortescue.
Wm. Gibson. GeoRge Briggs.
Hugh Shirreff. W. W. Green.
Robt. Peachey. B. T. Swinstead.
J. G. Howell. Thos. Pimm.