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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 to present herewith my Annual Report for the year ending
31st December, 1921.
Medical Inspection.—The total number of vessels medically inspected during
the year was 751, and the total number of cases of illness reported to your Medical
Officers was 549, of which number 48 cases were removed to Denton Hospital.
Aliens.—Aliens arriving in the Port have been found to be clean, healthy and
louse-free to a degree which compares very favourably with conditions which existed
among them in former times.
Infectious Disease.—There are few outstanding features in the record of
infectious disease. The customary careful examination of the entering ships has
been maintained, and many of the ships showed cause for special watch during their
stay in the Port by reason of illness which had occurred during the voyage.
A point which is possibly of some importance to agriculture emerged in connection
with bone meal: this material was in one case proved to contain the spores of Anthrax,
and was the probable origin of the disease in and death of a labourer.
No case of the major infectious diseases—Plague, Cholera, Small-pox or Typhus
—has arrived in the Port.
The notice of masters of vessels and others has been called generally to the
provisions of the Port Sanitary Authorities' (Infectious Diseases) Regulations, by means
of a handbill. (See page 38.)
The total number of disinfections on account of Infectious Disease was 130.
Rats.—There is a largely increased list of arriving ships which have been
fumigated for the destruction of rats at various Ports. Sulphur Dioxide is seen to
be the fumigant in greatest use.
No Plague-infected rat has been found in the Port during the year.
Food Inspection.—The total approximate weight of unsound food condemned
as unfit for human food was 2,616 tons. Details are given of the methods employed
in the disposal of this quantity.
Sanitary Inspection.—The total number of visits of inspection was 25,992, this
number being somewhat below the average taken over ten years ending 31st December
last.
Canal Boats.—The Annual Report on the working of the Canal Boats Acts and
Regulations is appended to this Report.