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6
PORT OF LONDON SANITARY OFFICES,
51, KING WILLIAM STREET,
GREENWICH, S.E. 10.
TO THE WORSHIPFUL THE PORT OF LONDON
SANITARY COMMITTEE.
Gentlemen,
I have the honour of presenting my Annual Report for the year 1919, with details
of the work done by your Officers and Inspectors.
It will be seen that major infectious diseases called again as in recent years for
great watchfulness and effort, amid the difficulties and dislocations which were the
inevitable outcome of the movement of large masses of men and foodstuffs to and
from every part of the world.
Two ships were found by your Medical Officers to be Plague infected and one to
have been Plague infected. The discovery in each of the three cases was a
demonstration of the value of the system in operation under your Worshipful Committee
and constitutes a creditable piece of detective work.
63,624 rats were reported to have been destroyed on ships and in the docks.
3,2S7 rats were examined for Plague; in January one rat was found to be
infected. There was no unaccountable mortality among rats discovered in any
dock throughout the year
An epidemic of Para-Enteric Fever occurred on one of the Training Ships in
the Port, 28 cases being removed to Denton Hospital.
Small-pox entered the Port from the Continent. The disease was prevalent
in various parts of the globe in epidemic proportions and received close attention
throughout the year. The Tables show the menace of this disease to have been
very large Cholera caused no anxiety; one ship which was declared to have had
a Cholera infection on board was found to have been Plague infected and was dealt
with accordingly.
A change in system of disinfestation, from the mechanical production of
Sulphur Dioxide to the method of simple burning of sulphur has almost led to
disuse of the barge "Thomas" with its apparatus. This change is chiefly due to
the dislocation of normal duties brought about by the withdrawal of launch crews
for towage and for the long operation of fumigation, and in anticipation of much
greater dislocation which would take place under the amended Orders of the Ministry
of Food and the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act. The Orders and the Act have
greatly extended the powers and duties of the Authority.
The launch "Lady Truscott" proved unreliable when again put, in commission.
The boiler tubes needed renewal, while coaling and steaming difficulties determined
a change to an oil fuel system. The work was put in hand at an estimated cost of
£2,000.
The usual Tables and Reports on Food Examination and Canal Boats are
annended.