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 1921
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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| Date. 1921. | Name of Vessel, Port of Registry and Official No. | Where from. | No. of Cases. | How dealt with. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 20 | s.s. "Kamo Maru," of Tokio | Yokohama | 1 | Landed at Colombo. |
| April 28 | s.s. "Karmala," of Liverpool, 135,590. | Kobe | 1 | Ditto. |
| May 1 | s.s. "Foyle," of London, 139,093 | Shanghai | 1 | Landed at Suez. |
| July 21 | s.s. "Yangtse," of Shanghai | Dairen | 1 | Lauded at Saigon. |
| Aug. 9 | s.s. "City o£ Milan," of Glasgow, 143,141. | — | 1(?) | Removed to Port Sanitary Hospital. (Femoral Gland Septic.) |
| „ 27 | s.s. "Sabor," of London, 144,504. | Rio Grande | 2 | Landed at Rotterdam. |
| Oct. 4 | s.s. "Omar," of London, 143,196. | Brisbane | 1 | Landed at Suez. |
| Total | 8 | |||
PLAGUE.
The s.s. "Kamo Maru," from Kobe for London, Japanese vessel, 146 crew and
19 passengers, arrived in the Port of London on the 20th January. It was reported
that a case of illness had been landed at Colombo, which on post-mortem and
bacteriological examination was determined to be Plague.
The ship was at
Kobe 30th Nov., 1920
Shanghai 6th Dec., ,,
Hong Kong 10th Dec., ,,
Singapore 16th Dec., ,,
Penang 18th Dec., ,,
Colombo 24th Dec., ,,
Suez 5th Jan., 1921
Port Said 6th Jan., ,,
Marseilles 13th Jan., ,,
Gravesend 20th Jan., ,,
Case.—Tattori Tokujiro, washerman (Stewards' Department) was taken ill four
days out from Singapore on the 20th December. He presented Fever and an Inguinal
Bubo, was landed at Colombo on the 23rd, and died on the 24th December. The patient
had spent a night ashore at Singapore—the question of the presence of a rat infection
on the ship was therefore of importance in determining how the ship should be dealt
with. In the presence of a rat mortality a case of Plague would hardly be considered
to have been contracted ashore.
Eat Infection.—Altogether about 20 dead rats were found prior to arrival at
Colombo. 50 or 60 are stated to have been caught in traps. After leaving Shanghai
five dead rats were found in the quarters of the stewards—in these quarters and
amongst the stewards the patient was berthed. After leaving Colombo it was stated
that poison had been put down freely, but further dead rats were not found.
Infected Quarters.—These constituted a space out of the upper 'tween deck of
Nos. 3 and 4 holds on the starboard side. They formed the stewards' quarters for
about 30 men, being approached by a companion way between the hatches of Nos. 3
and 4 holds. At the bottom of the companion way was a space from which the
berthing accommodation opened. This space was a constant depository for rice in
use for the crew's food and also contained a rat-holed food locker. As has been
stated, dead rats were found in the stewards' quarters. The berth occupied by the
case of Plague was an upper bunk close to the doorway leading to the space
appropriated to rice storage. Ample food and moisture in addition was found on the
deck in connection with refuse from the galley situated immediately in front of No. 3
hold.